Sauber’s de la Rosa ‘available’ for rival F1 teams

Pedro de la Rosa

(GMM) Pedro de la Rosa has revealed he is "available" for employment by formula one teams. After a long stint away from the grid as McLaren's test and reserve driver, the 39-year-old Spaniard this year returned to racing with Sauber.

But his season has been difficult at the wheel of the usually uncompetitive and unreliable C29 car, while also dogged by constant suggestions that he is set to be ousted.

More bad luck followed de la Rosa to Canada last weekend, where after qualifying just 17th he was punted out at the first corner by Vitaly Petrov before his Ferrari engine failed.

"No matter how bad it's been, it's better than testing," he later smiled during an interview with the BBC.

Despite the setbacks, de la Rosa insists he has "fully" enjoyed his return to formula one, but indicated that his career is now in doubt.

"I feel young. For the future, if anyone wants me, I am available," he revealed.

"I am usable, even if I have to go back testing or as a reserve driver, because I have had another year in formula one racing it will extend my career, simple as that," added de la Rosa.

The once-promising rookie Kamui Kobayashi is also under the spotlight at Sauber, especially given his first-lap crash into Montreal's famous 'Wall of Champions'.

"As is often the case in Canada, it was easy to score championship points today, however, we didn't collect them," angry team boss Peter Sauber said.

"We lost one car which was in tenth at the end of lap one through an over-optimistic move, and the second one through an engine failure."