TheChequeredFlag

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.

Sauber have announced the signing of Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi this morning. Kobayashi moves to Sauber after impressing for Toyota during the last two races of the 2009 season, in which he secured a sixth place in the season finale in Abu Dhabi. The Japanese driver replaced Timo Glock after the German injured himself during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old was expected to race for Toyota in 2010, but once the manufacturer decided to leave the sport, the young driver had no drive for the forthcoming season. Sauber though, who bought out BMW in November, clearly saw enough in the youngster and has taken the chance to snap him up.

An ecstatic Kobayashi told reporters: “Ever since the start of my career I have dreamed of racing in Formula 1.”

He continued: “I will do my best for Peter Sauber’s team and I am proud to be to be carry on flying the Japanese flag in Formula 1.”

Kobayashi is the first driver to be confirmed for the newly-bought team, who are believed to be interested in taking Nick Heidfeld on as well. Heidfeld though, who has driven for BMW since 2006, is being linked with the vacant Mercedes drive. And, until Mercedes announce their second driver, an announcement about Sauber’s second driver is unlikely to be before that.

Other drivers linked to Sauber are Giancarlo Fisichella and Pedro de la Rosa, who are both test drivers at Ferrari and McLaren respectively.