Dedicated to Holland's greatest racing driver
Pedro de la Rosa
Born: 1971, Spain
After winning the Japanese Forula Nippon Championship of 1997, Pedro returned to Europe and entered F1 to become Jordan test driver for 1998. The following season, he was contracted by the Arrows team to contest alongside team mate, Toranasuke Tagaki. Pedro did well to come 6th in his first Grand Prix. Impressing the Arrows team, he remained for 2000 at Arrows alongside Dutchman, Jos Verstappen. Pedro and Jos matched eachother on most occasions, both scoring points for the team; Pedro two, Jos five. Arrows signed the two friends for 2001 but dropped de la Rosa at the last minute in favour of heavily sponsored rookie, Bernoldi who would become Verstappen's team mate.
Booted out of F1, he quickly returned in 2001 with Jaguar after the team dropped Luciano Burti. Scoring three points within the remainder of the season to team mate Irvine's four, he impressed enough to continue with Jaguar in 2002.
Season 2002 was a disaster for Pedro at Jaguar and Irvine scored all the team's points. Jaguar Racing made a big change for 2003 however, sacking both Irvine and de la Rosa. It would later emerge that de la Rosa and Irvine did not get on very well, most probably due to differences in character; Pedro a serious and methodical racer, Irvine a well-known playboy and out-spoken figure.
Out of F1 again, Pedro soon found a job as test driver for top-team McLaren for 2003 - 2005. Pedro made a surprise retern to F1 racing in 2005 when he stood in for an ill Montoya at McLaren for the Grand Prix of Bahrain, surprising many as he raced well to finish 5th and set the fastest lap! For 2006, Pedro remained McLaren test driver and made a return to F1 racing once again when Montoya quit F1, racing for McLaren for the remainder of the season, collecting some consistent results and finishing a high of 2nd position at the Hungarian Grand Prix - De La Rosa's maiden podium finish.
Pedro de la Rosa Links:
Official Pedro De La Rosa Website
Biography & Race Results @ Wikipedia
Jos Verstappen's team mate of 2000.
FULL F1 RACE RESULTS
1999 - present
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