Ex-Ferrari driver Felipe Massa believes that Fernando Alonso's switch to McLaren will be good for both the Spaniard and for the Italian constructor.

The double world champion decided to end his contract with the Scuderia two years early in order to race for the Woking-based outfit, who will run Honda engines for the first time in 23 years.

However, Massa has suggested that the relationship between Alonso and Ferrari had run its course and that neither party were benefitting from it.

The Brazilian told Autosport: "Everybody knew he was going to leave Ferrari, so it wasn't exactly breaking news.

"Maybe we saw that Ferrari didn't give him the best car that he expected, but maybe also he didn't help Ferrari to grow.

"So maybe now is the time for him to change."

Alonso, who previously spent one year at McLaren in 2007, finished sixth in the 2014 drivers' championship.