De la Rosa to be Sauber racer in 2010?
01/11/10 (GMM) Pedro de la Rosa will be confirmed imminently as Kamui Kobayashi's Sauber teammate for 2010.
The Swiss newspaper Blick, whose F1 correspondent Roger Benoit is close to the Hinwil based team's founder and boss Peter Sauber, said an announcement could be made this week.
Spain's Diario AS also said long-time McLaren test driver de la Rosa, 38, has now agreed a race deal with Sauber, with an announcement due "in a matter of hours", or a few "days" at the most.
It is believed the contract is for 2010, with an option to include an additional season. De la Rosa's main opponent for the seat was believed to have been Ferrari reserve driver Giancarlo Fisichella.
The sports newspaper also said Sauber has secured two new sponsors, including Universia, a subsidiary of the Spanish bank Santander that was recently expected to depart Renault along with Fernando Alonso.
01/10/10 This rumor is upgraded to 'strong' today. According to well-connected Blick's Roger Benoit there is now nothing stopping Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa from getting the 2nd Sauber seat, and will be confirmed next week. He reports the contract has already signed "and sealed". Announcement is likely to happen early in the week.
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| Pedro de la Rosa |
01/04/10 (GMM) Pedro de la Rosa has reportedly denied reports he has signed to be Kamui Kobayashi's teammate at Sauber in 2010.
The Swiss newspaper said the almost 39-year-old McLaren test driver is set to complete the deal barring "an earthquake in Hinwil", and to the NZZ weekly Peter Sauber admitted he had signed "an experienced man" that is not Nick Heidfeld.
But Diario Sport, a Spanish daily sports newspaper, said de la Rosa is denying the reports. Additional Details were not given.
01/03/10 (GMM) Pedro de la Rosa is expected to be Kamui Kobayashi's teammate at Sauber in 2010, according to Blick.
The Swiss daily newspaper, with close ties to the Peter Sauber-led team, said the news is likely to be confirmed soon barring "an earthquake in Hinwil".
Spaniard de la Rosa, to turn 39 next month, last raced full-time in 2002 with Jaguar. He already lives in Zurich, which is only a short drive from Sauber's team base.
He has since been McLaren's main test and reserve driver, and the El Mundo newspaper said recently the British team had given him until the last day of 2009 to decide his F1 role for 2010.
The Swiss weekly NZZ am Sonntag on Sunday quoted Peter Sauber as admitting only that "an experienced man" with "new knowledge for the team" has been signed to partner Kobayashi in 2010.
He also all but confirmed that Nick Heidfeld is not the driver in question.