De La Rosa appointed Ferrari Development Driver

Experienced Formula 1 Race and Test Driver Pedro De La Rosa will join Ferrari as their Development Driver for 2013.

(c) HRT F1 Team

The 41-year-old joins the team after a stint at HRT in 2012. The Spanish squad failed to find a buyer and closed down, leaving the experienced racer without a seat.


He will join compatriots Fernando Alonso and Marc Gene at the iconic team. De La Rosa started his career at Jordan in 1998, becoming their test driver. He then drove for teams like Arrows and Jaguar before moving to McLaren as their test driver. He was with the team for a long time and got numerous race outings between 2003 and 2009, before he moved to a race seat at Sauber. He was then dropped from the Swiss squad and returned to McLaren as their reserve driver, before moving to Pirelli as their official test driver. HRT opened their arms to him in 2012 but after the folding of the Spanish squad he was left without a drive.

He said "It is amazingly motivating to be working for a team like Ferrari, not just because of what it represents in the history of Formula 1 and motoring in general, but also because it will be a completely new and very stimulating experience for me," 

"I really hope I can get to work as soon as possible and to help in the development of the car. I am happy to be collaborating with Fernando again and also to be working with Felipe (Massa).

"There's not much time until Australia, but there is a lot to do and I am available to help the team from right now."

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali said "We must anticipate problems we have and focus on simulation," 

"We think Pedro is the right person to develop this type of activity. We think he is a driver that fits well within our group."

He also denied that Alonso's friendship with their new signing was influential in the signing. "Clearly the fact that Pedro has a good relationship with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa is a positive factor, but the decision is purely technical,"

His main focus will be working to improve the simulator and the car through simulator work.