De la Rosa slams 'young driver test' format
Global Motorsport Media
Pedro de la Rosa has slammed the format of this week's 'young driver test' in Abu Dhabi, saying it is not fair experienced drivers are left in the cold as the sport looks to control its costs.
"It makes perfect sense to me to limit and control tests in order to contain costs," said the long time McLaren reserve driver in his latest formulasantander.com column.
"But come on, limiting them to three days a season exclusively for young drivers seems an exaggeration and an aberration for a sport which should be the prime example of competitiveness and innovation in the world of motor racing competition," the 40-year-old Spaniard said.
He said it is ridiculous that a 'young driver' like Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari is excluded at the age of 21 because he has contested more than two Grands Prix.
At the same time there are drivers like 30-year-old Gary Paffett "who continue to be young" according to the definition of the eligible drivers, de la Rosa marvelled.
And yet he, in a more senior role than Paffett at McLaren, is not allowed to practice.
"Can you imagine David Ferrer having to play a Davis Cup final as a substitute for an injured Rafael Nadal without having practised for six months?" de la Rosa wondered.
Share Or Save This Story
Friday favourite: The team game maestro who showed Wickens a new side to racing
The seaside circuit that a double DTM champion made his own
Paffett's DTM return delayed due to travel restrictions
Lando Norris eyes Le Mans drive as McLaren endurance push heats up
Lando Norris opens up on McLaren award that transformed his racing career
Why some F1 team bosses think drivers shouldn't have a say in the rules
Monster to become Aprilia's title sponsor in MotoGP from Italian GP
NASCAR adjusts hot topic rules for Trucks and O'Reilly Series
'Joy' is the key to NASCAR on Prime's success
Team Penske makes another pit crew change for Ryan Blaney
Why quirky Montreal will remain F1's true North American gem
Top 10 F1 drivers of the 1960s
The F1 power unit formula solution that could suit all parties
How F1's ADUO system works
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments