de la Rosa to drive third McLaren
McLaren had a difficult season last year with the MP4-19 and by the time the 'b' specification car was introduced mid-season, there was little chance of much championship success. Despite a win in Belgium, McLaren Mercedes finished fifth in the Constructors' championship and is therefore eligible to run a third car in Friday practice. It is this role that Pedro de la Rosa is hoping to make the best of.
Pedro de la Rosa will run the third MP4-20 in Melbourne, Sepang and Bahrain. Following those first three races the team hope to have the option to use Alex Wurz whose running in the MP4-20 has was curtailed early on as he was unable to fit comfortably into Adrian Newey's latest charge. With modifications, McLaren expect to have the Austrian back in the latest equipment from the team.
Pedro de la Rosa joined McLaren in 2003 after losing his Jaguar Racing ride at the end of the 2002 season. With 63 starts to his credit de la Rosa will undoubtedly help McLaren this year as he takes on a similar role of that enjoyed last year by Anthony Davidson at BAR. McLaren
02/15/05 Spanish driver Pedro de la Rosa says he will drive the third McLaren on Friday for the first three races of the F1 season. "It's true that I've been guaranteed the seat for Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain," de la Rosa told Spanish daily As. "For the next races they will decide if it's Wurz or me. But at the moment I'm only thinking about those three races." We await a confirmation from McLaren.