Santander not ruling out de la Rosa backing

An official of the Spanish bank Santander has refused to rule out stepping in to support Pedro de la Rosa's push to return to the Formula One grid in 2010.

De la Rosa, currently McLaren's long time test and reserve driver, appeared at a sponsor event with Santander where a scholarship for young Spanish drivers was handed out.

38-year-old de la Rosa has been linked with moves to the Campos, USF1 and Sauber teams for 2010, but he said recently that the support of sponsors would make his quest for a seat "infinitely easier".

When presenting the scholarship to a young Spaniard, de la Rosa joked that he is also a "promising youngster" and asked Santander Espana's Enrique Garcia Candelas if he can also have a cheque.

"If it is found it is necessary to support him, we would do it," Candelas is quoted as saying by Spain's Diario AS.