In what was another one of the worst kept secrets in Formula 1. The McLaren Formula 1 Team confirmed Fernando Alonso as their driver for 2015.

The announcement was made at McLaren’s headquarters in Woking where in addition to Alonso, Briton Jenson Button was also confirmed for 2015.

It is understood that Alonso will join the Woking based outfit for 2015 and 2016 with an option to renew for 2017 if performance targets are reached for either party. The deal is reportedly worth £25 million an it is said that McLaren’s engine partner, Honda, was the main driver in acquiring Alonso for the team.

“I have never hidden my deep admiration for Ayrton Senna, my favourite driver, my idol on track, my reference,” said Alonso

“I am joining this project with enormous enthusiasm and determination, knowing that it may require some time to achieve the results we are aiming for, which is no problem for me,” he added.

“Over the past year I have received several offers, some of them really tempting, given the current performance of some of the teams that showed interest. But, more than a year ago, McLaren-Honda contacted me and asked me to take part, in a very active way, in the return of their partnership – a partnership that dominated the Formula 1 scene for so long.

“McLaren-Honda’s repeated and open desire, perseverance and determination in making it possible for me to join their exciting renewed partnership, have been some of the main factors that made me take this decision, not forgetting the most important factor of all: we share a common objective and expectations, and there is a very solid future, with confidence, ahead.”

McLaren Chairman and CEO Ron Dennis feels that he’s assembled the best driver line up for 2015.

“I am absolutely delighted to be on the threshold of leading McLaren-Honda to a new era of partnership, and I speak on behalf of all at McLaren when I say that. I am equally confident that our colleagues at Honda share that determination and passion to win,” said Dennis.

“As regards drivers, McLaren’s policy has always been to assemble the strongest line-up possible, and in Fernando and Jenson I firmly believe that is exactly what we have.

“We signed Fernando a little while ago, but we decided not to announce the fact until we had also re-signed Jenson as his team-mate. For many reasons our negotiations with Jenson took quite a long time, but, now that they have been concluded, we are confident that our collaboration with him will continue to thrive in the future every bit as well as it has in the past. Make no mistake about it, Jenson is 100% committed to McLaren-Honda, to Formula 1, and to winning.

Jenson Button will be relieved that he’s finally penned a deal with McLaren which will see him compete in his 16th season in F1. Ron Dennis revealed that Button has signed a two year extension with the team.

“I am extremely excited to be embarking on my 16th year in Formula 1 and my sixth season for McLaren.

“Like Fernando, I am certain that McLaren and Honda will achieve great things together, and I feel sure that, working together, all of us will pull incredibly hard to create a brilliantly effective winning team.

“Being a part of new-look McLaren-Honda is a wonderful opportunity for all of us, and I am very pleased to have been invited to do my bit. In fact, I am absolutely raring to go.

“Last but far from least, I am very much looking forward to having a driver as fast and as experienced as Fernando as my team-mate. I am sure we will work extremely well together.”

Kevin Magnussen will stay on at McLaren as their test and reserve driver for 2015 and is expected to drive at Friday practice sessions at some races.

Ron Dennis thanked Magnussen for his contribution to the team and added that he will still be part of the team.

“Finally, I want to thank and pay tribute to Kevin, who has done a great job this season and will continue to be an integral part of our team. He will be our test, reserve and third driver, and remains an excellent prospect for the future.”