Points system will not increase will to win - de la Rosa

Pedro de la Rosa has played down the likely effectiveness of F1's new points scoring system.

The F1 Commission last week confirmed that extending the gap between first and second places in 2010 to 7 points is to "further encourage the race to win".

But Sauber driver and Grand Prix Drivers' Association chairman de la Rosa said according to Spain's El Pais newspaper: "Changing the scoring system will not change anything, because the drivers always want to win."

After leaving his long post as McLaren's test driver, the 38-year-old also admitted that he will decide whether to continue to head the GPDA after speaking this week with fellow directors Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber.

As for whether the Ferrari-powered Sauber C29 is really a podium contender, de la Rosa answered: "Why not? That should be the target.

"The car seems very easy to drive, performs very well in slow corners and responds well to the setup changes," added the Spaniard, who will take over from Kamui Kobayashi at Jerez this week on Friday.

But de la Rosa, who remains a Johnnie Walker ambassador in 2010 despite leaving McLaren, answered "I don't know" when asked how the car compares with the Swiss team's rivals.