De la Rosa could retain F1 seat

(GMM) Even with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Gary Paffett breathing down his neck, Pedro de la Rosa stands a chance of retaining the McLaren race drive for season '07.

That is the insistence of Mercedes boss Norbert Haug, who told the Spanish press that even pairing the 35-year-old alongside a countryman is no obstacle.

''We only want to have the best drivers,'' competition director Haug told 'Marca' newspaper.

Interestingly hinting that Kimi Raikkonen will not be part of the lineup, he said: ''If we are convinced that (de la Rosa) is the best option, then he will get the seat.

''He is a very intelligent driver.''