De La Rosa in second McLaren?

De La Rosa in second McLaren?#26584

By beaverbott - 09 Dec 07, 19:13

- 09 Dec 07, 19:13#26584

Rosberg's signed a new contract now, Sutil defiantly staying with Force India, Kovalainen looking like he will stay with Renault, Ralf not looking an interesting prospect to McLaren and Prodrive not to be entering as a customer McLaren team so Pedro De la Rosa and Gary Paffett both without the race seat in that team and as De la Rosa is the more experienced and proven F1 racer he is likely to be confirmed as the second driver along side Hamilton.

#26587

By certom - 09 Dec 07, 20:40

- 09 Dec 07, 20:40#26587

Sutil has the contract with force india, not the seat. They could sell his contract to the last available team (mclaren) and take two expert drivers (possibly one would be liuzzi

)

ORGOGLIO FERRARI

VOLVO DRIVER

#26588

By beaverbott - 09 Dec 07, 20:54

- 09 Dec 07, 20:54#26588

Force India are now well funded so they wouldnt need to sell his contract and with Kolles still with the team, Sutil isnt likely to go anywhere

#26607

By McLaren Fan - 10 Dec 07, 01:51

- 10 Dec 07, 01:51#26607

Personally, I don't really rate de la Rosa as a driver. I think any top drawer driver like Hamilton, Alonso, Raikkonen, Schumacher, and a lot of others would cream him. The only reason for appointing him, in my view, is because it would create a de facto one-two system of operating. If McLaren were ever seriously thinking de la Rosa was a driver of sufficient quality, McLaren would not be the team I thought they were.

Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2007
McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008

#26612

By bud - 10 Dec 07, 02:38

- 10 Dec 07, 02:38#26612

If they do take on de la Rosa i think it will only be for the season and see who they can get for 09

#26631

By deMuRe - 10 Dec 07, 09:38

- 10 Dec 07, 09:38#26631

Personally, I don't really rate de la Rosa as a driver. I think any top drawer driver like Hamilton, Alonso, Raikkonen, Schumacher, and a lot of others would cream him. The only reason for appointing him, in my view, is because it would create a de facto one-two system of operating. If McLaren were ever seriously thinking de la Rosa was a driver of sufficient quality, McLaren would not be the team I thought they were.

I agree with this, test drivers are test drivers for a reason...

Fisichella has the personality profile to work well with Hamilton's obvious political advantage in the team, Fisi has never been a take charge kind of guy and would probably work well helping Lewis with setup.

Although I don't think Fisi' profile is high enough for a McLaren drive.

I really have no idea who could fill the 2nd McLaren seat. I would love Webber to get the nod however mentally it wouldn't be a good match for Lewis. Lewis needs his own Barichello...

7 Times

#26640

By bud - 10 Dec 07, 11:21

- 10 Dec 07, 11:21#26640

i have a friend in the know who informed me tonight that McLaren has already signed Heikki

#26667

By texasmr2 - 10 Dec 07, 15:22

- 10 Dec 07, 15:22#26667

i have a friend in the know who informed me tonight that McLaren has already signed Heikki

I like the sound of that

! De La Rosa had some blindingly fast race's in '06 but all the opinion's are correct I believe. If McLaren thought he was a top caliber driver he would have already had a seat and not just a backup/test driver.

"Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination".
Mark Twain

#26684

By vegas - 10 Dec 07, 18:07

- 10 Dec 07, 18:07#26684

Now it will be interesting to see how well Hamilton performs when he isnt "pushed" like Alonso did as he stated on Top Gear. But I really doubt McLaren is going to have a great 2008 season. Personally I hope Alonso kicks the s*** out of them

#26689

By texasmr2 - 10 Dec 07, 18:22

- 10 Dec 07, 18:22#26689

Are you saying HK wont push LH ? I like Lewis but I would be thrilled to see Heikki take him to school. Either way I think it's a great pairing of driver's.

"Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination".
Mark Twain

#26692

By vegas - 10 Dec 07, 18:38

- 10 Dec 07, 18:38#26692

HK wont push LH like FA did, and without that it will be interesting to see if LH performs any different.

#26708

By 7UpJordan - 10 Dec 07, 19:22

- 10 Dec 07, 19:22#26708

Heikki will be partnering Hamilton I reckon. Another flying Finn in the silver machine, gets on well with Hamilton. He'll be looking to carry on from where he left off from 2007 - Interlagos notwithstanding.

If Santander pull out because of there being no Spanish connection, I'm sure Ron will be able to find someone else's name to put on his cars.

"And Mansell was lucky not to be taken off by that RIDICULOUS bit of driving by Alliot!!" - James Hunt
"AAAAAND into the pitlane..... OHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" - Murray Walker

#26743

By texasmr2 - 10 Dec 07, 20:51

- 10 Dec 07, 20:51#26743

HK wont push LH like FA did, and without that it will be interesting to see if LH performs any different.

I see what your saying but I hope your wrong :wink:

. The more pressure both of them have, from each other, imho will just speed up their individual learning curve. Lewis is the man at the moment but like Heikki they are both very young yet very talented and both of them have something to prove in '08. Oh man I am so looking forward to this battle "I'm as giddy as a school girl with a strong breeze blowing up her skirt" :oops: