Fernando Alonso and Ferrari have ended the fevered speculation about the Spaniard’s participation in this weekend’s US Grand Prix.

Since Abu Dhabi, Alonso has been reportedly struggling with back pain as a result of his harsh impact over the kerbs in a duel with Jean-Eric Vergne.

It was rumoured Ferrari was lining up Jules Bianchi or Pedro de la Rosa as last-minute substitutes for the injured ‘number 1’.

But Alonso told his millions of Twitter and Facebook fans late on Monday that he is getting on a plane bound for Texas.

“Packing the bag for Austin,” he wrote from his home in Spain.

“(I have) some click here for more