Alonso to reveal 2009 F1 plans

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Fernando Alonso has kept the Formula One paddock guessing where he will be driving next season -- but his plans will soon be known.

The 27-year-old has made a point of leaving his options open all season after moving back down the grid from front-runners McLaren in 2007 to Renault, where he won the drivers' championship in 2005 and 2006.

But after a difficult first half of the season, Renault have improved and Alonso won in Singapore and Japan -- making the Anglo-French outfit favorites to secure the Spaniard's services for 2009.

"I am 99 percent sure what I am going to do," Alonso reaffirmed to Dutch magazine Formule 1 Race Report. "After Brazil, everyone will know."

Competitive drives for 2009 look limited, with this year's top three, Ferrari, McLaren and BMW, all retaining their current driver line-ups. Read more about F1 at The Circuit.

Rumors had suggested that Alonso was sniffing around Ferrari for a 2009 seat on the off-chance that 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen decided to quit.

But despite Raikkonen looking a shadow of his former self for much of the year, he re-signed for the Italian squad last month on a two-year deal.

Honda have made a play for Alonso, offering him a lucrative contract, but their chances have receded in recent weeks as the Renault car has improved.

With Jenson Button all but confirmed at Honda for 2009, the team's chief executive officer Nick Fry hinted at Alonso replacing Rubens Barrichello in the other seat.

"We want to announce both drivers at the same time, and at the moment we're not in a position to do that because we're awaiting a yes or a no from a certain person," he told UK broadcaster ITV.

Once Alonso makes his intentions known, the rest of the grid will begin to fall into place -- and certainty is something which Barrichello would appreciate.

The veteran Brazilian, 36, believes that with the sport's regulations being given a huge shake-up for 2009, his experience of a record 273 races will be invaluable wherever he ends up.

"I think what Honda need is someone with experience, with speed and lots of motivation -- and that is what they have with me," he told Autosport.com.

"I am completely focused on doing what I can, and I am doing all I can to stay on. I am only (thinking) for F1. I think with all my input I deserve a seat next year."

If Honda let him go, as is expected, there are few other drives going. Toro Rosso have lost hot shoe Sebastian Vettel to Red Bull and they are yet to confirm Sebastien Bourdais will stay for a second season.

A Renault drive is improbable and with all other seats filled, Barrichello's F1 career might be at an end after 16 distinguished years.