Pedro de la Rosa drives Sauber in McLaren overalls in FP2 of Canadian Grand Prix – Formula 1 news
McLaren’s Formula 1 test driver Pedro de la Rosa was called up by the Sauber team in the last minute to drive their car in the second free practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix of the 2011 Formula 1 season.
Rosa stated that he drove the car in McLaren overalls and the car itself was not customised as the team had only 10 minutes to get it on the road.
Rosa joined the Sauber team replacing injured Sergio Perez for the second free practice of the Canadian Grand Prix and will drive the car in the Saturday qualifiers and the race as well.
He said that he had no hope of driving the Sauber car although the Sauber team had already contacted McLaren.
“Martin Whitmarsh had told me that Sauber had called in case there was a chance, but told me not to get carried away. So I arrived here thinking it was impossible. I knew Sergio was fine and I was sure I wouldn't get in the car, until ten to two,” explains
Rosa.
He further added that the call was so sudden that the drive in the practice session was not perfect.
Rosa said, “I was finishing lunch when Monisha Kaltenborn [Sauber CEO] showed up at McLaren and asked me, 'are you ready? It's very likely you will have to get in the car'. From then it was a crazy race to get my helmet, my overalls, my things at McLaren,
sit in the car.”
He further added that the car was not customised but still he had to do a run in the session. Rosa was able to do 14 laps in his first outing in the Sauber car.
Talking about his chances in the qualifiers and race, Rosa clearly stated that he has a lot to learn as the steering wheel of Sauber and McLaren are different and it will take him some time to understand the system efficiently.
The final practice session will be contested on Saturday and Rosa will get time to customise the Sauber package to his personal liking to get something out of the race.
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