Pedro de la Rosa – a possible future with HRT?
The Spanish press have reported that the Hispania Racing F1 Team (HRT F1) is seeking the possibility of signing Spanish racer Pedro de la Rosa for the end of the season, since the 39-year-old was dropped by Sauber earlier this week.
De la Rosa, currently 17th in the Driver’s Championships with six points, has been replaced by veteran German driver Nick Heidfeld, and is looking for another venue in which to pursue his racing. HRT has placed Sakon Yamamoto in their vacant driver
spot, and the team is now considering the possibility of employing local talent De la Rosa, as well as 22-year-old compatriot Javier Villa. HRT “...would like to have a high-quality driver like Pedro as team-mate for Bruno Senna,” Spanish daily
Diario AS reports.
HRT has suffered a heartbreaking season, sitting at the bottom of the tables with zero points. Disappointing performances by both Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok, as well as numerous technical problems with the vehicle, have added to the team’s stresses,
and word is out that HRT will say goodbye to F1 at the end 2010. But aldiaf1.com reports that team owner Jose Ramon Carabante has denied the claim, insisting, “We will, for sure, complete this season. We're going well and working hard on next year.”
Carabante also revealed that he has “spoken with Pedro de la Rosa," but refused to provide any certainty concerning to the driver’s status with the team. De la Rosa was seen in discussion with Carabante in the Monza paddock at the Italian Grand Prix, before
receiving the news from Sauber.
De la Rosa has yet to make a big impact on F1, having scored a total of 35 career points, one fastest lap and one podium finish. Yet the Spaniard, who has been racing in F1 since 1999, isn’t looking to leave the circuit any time soon. Expressing his profound
passion for the track, he pledges, “I still intend to be in Formula One for 2011.”
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