“Without a doubt, the addition of Pedro de la Rosa for next year will be
a fundamental foundation in the development of our project,” he said.
“We are a young team that needs to continue progressing and with this
incorporation I am convinced that we will do just that.”
HRT have not yet announced who will occupy their second race seat. De la Rosa,
who has competed in 88 grands prix during a F1 career that began with Arrows
in 1999, said he had thought long and hard over the decision to join a team
at the back of the grid.
“This is a very important step in my sporting career and one of the most
meditated ones I’ve taken,” said de la Rosa.
“I’m at a very good stage in terms of maturity and am prepared to take
on this challenge, which motivates me hugely.
“When deciding on joining this project, for me there were three decisive
factors: my desire to return to active competition, the fact that HRT is a
Spanish team and getting to know the people leading this project, Luis
Perez-Sala being amongst them.”
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said he could understand why de la
Rosa left.
“In 2010 and 2011 he drove some races for the Sauber team – and,
although he’s always approached his test and development work with McLaren
with energy and enthusiasm, he remains a racer at heart,” Whitmarsh
said.
Whitmarsh added that McLaren had no plans to bring in a replacement for the
Spaniard with Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey available for development
duties.