Pedro de la Rosa is proud and very happy to be at Ferrari

After a season spent wearing down his racing suit behind the wheel of an HRT, Pedro de la Rosa has decided to return to service as a test driver, a role he knows well from his many years at McLaren. Expected to head towards Woking but also in talks with Williams, the Spanish driver has finally settled with Ferrari, culminating in a day of driving the future F138 during testing at Jerez: « I saw the new car at the factory while it was being prepared for the first tests, and I am very happy to be able to try it. Honestly, I didn’t expect this, but it’s a unique opportunity to start understanding how the car works and how I can help in the simulator work. »

Invited to an event organized in Spain by Santander – one of his personal sponsors – for the promotion of young talents, the Catalan said he is proud and very happy to join the Maranello team, stating that for him Ferrari is not just a Formula 1 team: I am starting a new phase of my life. For a driver, it’s important to work with big teams, particularly because you can learn from the best engineers and professionals in this sport. I am proud that Ferrari has placed their trust in me, especially because it means I will be able to support a Spanish champion, in the person of Fernando Alonso.

If he admits that other teams were in the running to secure his services, Pedro de la Rosa explains that they were probably not fast enough or that they knew what he wanted: For me, it was important to do something different. It’s a huge challenge, but I’m where I wanted to be. One of the first people I called was Martin Whitmarsh [McLaren team director, editor’s note]. Obviously, he was very surprised by my decision, but he congratulated me.

Barely arrived in Maranello, Pedro De la Rosa has already experienced the fervor surrounding the Scuderia and the pressure on each team member’s shoulders: « It’s logical because it’s a team accustomed to winning, » comments the Spaniard on Ferrari’s official website. « In Formula 1, the pressure is immense, but I immediately saw that at Ferrari, victory is all that matters. Every time I go to Maranello, there’s something to learn and it never stops. Even if I can’t say much more because I’ve known Ferrari for very little time, I can say that at least once in your life, you must visit Maranello. I’m not talking about the factory but the town itself, because it’s there you begin to understand the difference between a team like Ferrari and all the others: you almost already feel like a company member. Every restaurant, every bar, or every person in the street has something red: it’s truly impressive! »

The Spaniard also revealed that he had already applied to be a test driver at Ferrari before eventually committing to McLaren: « When I left Jaguar in January 2003, I called Ferrari to offer my services as a test and reserve driver. Jean Todt [the team’s manager at the time, ed.] told me: “We have Felipe Massa and Luca Badoer, so we have what we need!” Then I called McLaren, and Martin Whitmarsh told me they already had Alex Wurz, but I told them Ferrari had two test drivers, so he asked me to come see him if I was passing through England. Two weeks later, I was on the plane and met them. The interview was really bad, but they signed me. If I hadn’t told them the competition had two testers, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. »

Ten years later, if he was finally able to join the Italian team, it seems to be partly due to the will of Fernando Alonso, with whom he had the opportunity to collaborate at McLaren in 2007: « That Fernando wishes to work with me makes me very, very proud. Not because he is Spanish, but because he is the best. »