De la Rosa close to McLaren test return – report

Pedro de la Rosa is close to agreeing a return to the McLaren team for 2011.

The Spaniard’s contract as a Pirelli test driver is set to expire, after he was ousted by Sauber mid-season last year.

Before that, the 39-year-old was McLaren’s long-time main test driver, and although it has been suggested he is set to stay with Pirelli in 2011, reports in the Spanish press on Thursday said de la Rosa could go back to his former British employer.

He said recently that the remaining vacancies on the grid are “reserved for drivers that come with a sponsor”, admitting that he would agree to return as “a reserve or a tester”.

“I am calm because I know what I’ll do if I don’t find a team to race with,” he said.

The sports newspaper AS on Thursday said de la Rosa could be present when the wraps come off the 2011 McLaren in Berlin next Friday.

Read the Spanish report: “Negotiations were launched and, now, Pedro’s presence at the team led by Martin Whitmarsh is almost assured.  Even Lewis Hamilton has asked for him to be recruited.”

© RIF | GMM