Archive for the ‘Pedro de la Rosa’ Category
De la Rosa secures Sauber drive
Sauber have confirmed veteran Pedro de la Rosa as their second driver for the 2010 season.
De la Rosa, 38, leaves his position as reserve and test driver at McLaren to join the former BMW team, recently bought out by Peter Sauber.
The likable Spaniard will team up with Japanese rookie Kamui Kobayashi, who signed after Toyota’s dramatic exit from the sport, and de la Rosa revealed that he was delighted to be back in the forefront and not the shadows.
“I always believed I would be given another chance as a team driver,” de la Rosa said. “I’m really excited about the season with Sauber.”
De la Rosa had spent seven years at McLaren prior to this morning’s announcement, and despite his long period as test driver, he has accumulated 71 grands prix driving for Jaguar, Arrows and a cameo half-season in 2006 for McLaren when Juan Pablo Montoya left the team.
Before the announcement this morning, many names had been linked with the vacated drive at Sauber; de la Rosa, Giancarlo Fisichella, and Nick Heidfeld being the names repeated in newspapers, forums and gossip columns across the world. However, the Spaniard has won the race, and will be joining the team when the car is launched on 31st January in Valencia.
Owner Peter Sauber expressed his delight: “Pedro has spent many years working for a top team at the highest technical level.”
“We as a team stand to gain from his experience, and the same goes for young Kamui. The combination of a seasoned racer and an up-an-coming young driver has repeatedly proved to be a fruitful one,” he added.
The combination of youth and experience has become a successful pattern over the past few season; Vettel and Webber, Kubica and Heidfeld, being some examples. And, clearly Sauber believe the combination being key to having a successful 2010.
