Pedro De La Rosa called by Pirelli to do final test before he leaves for McLaren – Formula 1 Update
Pirelli’s Motorsport Director, Paul Hembery, said that Pedro De La Rosa will be needed to do one more test before he leaves for his home team, McLaren. Although Pirelli have a lot of time to chose another test driver, but Hembery wants the new Toyota chassis
to be tested by Rosa to set continuity.
De La Rosa has joined the McLaren team as a test driver and said that after being with so many teams, McLaren ‘feels like home’. He was previously Pirelli’s test driver.
Pirelli have modified their Toyota chassis which are to be tested in Istanbul in April. Hembery said, “Our first tests are in April, and ideally I would like Pedro to do those tests before he leaves us - as I would like some continuity.” He further explained
that the team have made some changes to the new chassis to make the Pirelli compound testing more meaningful. He said that Rosa has been with the team for a long time that he can compare the latest modifications and help us develop the car.
Hembery criticised the system in Formula 1 and said that it is not ideal, as most of the experienced drivers are called by the teams and then the tyre development stops, which make things worse for the supplier. He added, “We cannot really pick up young
drivers. Equally, you probably want someone with experience to give you the right input. For us it is not an easy one to resolve. I hope we will find a solution in a short space of time.”
He further added that the drivers should feel privileged to drive for the tyre supplier, as they will have the unique opportunity to drive every compound used by the champion drivers.
Pirelli’s previous test drivers, Nick Heidfeld and Pedro De la Rosa, are now in the Formula 1 arena, one way or another, as Heidfeld completes the Renault's driver line-up and Rosa re-joins McLaren as a test driver.
Although the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile or FIA has made the pre-race testing useful for Pirelli, Hembery still wants his own test driver to develop the tyres because there are fingers pointing at their tyres.
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