UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > De la Rosa joins Sauber

Spaniard back in a race seat

Another piece of the F1 jigsaw has fallen into place with the announcement this morning that Pedro de la Rosa, long serving McLaren test driver, will return to a race seat with the Sauber team in 2010.

De la Rosa, 38, has been in talks with the team for some time and recent speculation had led many to believe he was in contention with Giancarlo Fisichella for the drive. Kamui Kobayashi, so impressive for Toyota at the end of last season, will partner de la Rosa at the former BMW team

Peter Sauber, who bought the team back from the German giants, said:

“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-and-coming young driver has repeatedly proved a very fruitful one. I don't expect either of them to disappoint in 2010.

"Of course it is also crucial that we provide them with a decent car; I feel positive about our in-house progress on that front too. We were able to continue work on our 2010 car as scheduled throughout the recent period of uncertainty."

De la Rosa, who last raced an F1 car when he stood in for Juan Pablo Montoya at McLaren in Brazil 2006, added:

“I always firmly believed I would be given another chance as a team driver. Since the number of test drives were radically reduced, this was what I was working towards.

"I'm really excited about the season with Peter Sauber's team, which has been a solid fixture in Formula 1 ever since 1993."

There are few seats left for the 2010 season, and former BMW and Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld is the notable name who has so far yet to secure a drive. Heidfeld is in the running for the second Renault berth, although there are stories that whoever joins Robert Kubica at that team for 2010 will have to bring substantial sponsorship, something the German does not appear to have.

Written: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:53:13