De la Rosa says offshore 2011 testing 'irresponsible'

Pedro de la Rosa has criticised moves to take next year's winter pre-season testing offshore.

With this winter's entire testing schedule slashed to just 15 days in February, some teams - notably Ferrari - are ruing the persistent rain at Jerez.

"Next year it would be more efficient to go in another warmer and drier country for (pre-season) testing," the Italian team said this week.

But while also admitting to frustration about the lack of dry running as he prepares to return to the F1 grid full-time, Spaniard de la Rosa said the sport's moves to "strongly reduce costs" should take precedence.

"We have to stay in Europe and southern Spain is the best place for tests," the 38-year-old is quoted as saying by the Spanish language Motor21 website.

"Speaking now of (testing in) Bahrain, of exotic places, to me is irresponsible," he added.

De la Rosa also spoke against proposals to extend next week's final test in Barcelona.

He said doing that would require unanimity, "and that is impossible; one more day is more expensive, and there are teams that cannot afford it".