VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES PRE-SPAIN
Q&As - PEDRO DE LA ROSA
For Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ Spanish test driver,
Pedro de la Rosa, the race at the Circuit de Catalunya is
an important, and busy, race. In the following, Pedro discusses
his thoughts regarding the upcoming Grand Prix.
What are your expectations for the Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes team at the Spanish Grand Prix?
"Our expectation is to keep the Malaysia spirit! We have
to aim high. I think we can this year and therefore we should."
How do you feel the MP4-22 will perform during the
Grand Prix at the Barcelona circuit?
"Well I’m not sure, I hope it will work here well,
but we will have to wait and see. We know the track and traditionally
we have always been very quick, but I cannot be sure about
it until we are racing. We’ve been working very hard,
for me Barcelona is the most demanding circuit for the car,
including the engine, aerodynamics and the mechanical side.
If the car is quick here, it will be quick elsewhere. We were
at Malaysia, which is another track which is similar to Barcelona."
What is the most important characteristic for a car
to have to be quick at the Circuit de Catalunya?
"The Circuit de Catalunya has changed a lot since the
introduction of the chicane. The two high speed corners at
the end of the lap don’t exist anymore, this means that
you won’t need such a strong front end as you normally
need in Barcelona. The track is like Malaysia in many ways,
you still need a very strong package. It is not hard on the
brakes, but it is hard on everything else. You need a strong
engine, engine power at the Circuit de Catalunya is particularly
important. You have to have a lot of downforce, an efficient
car; it is just the whole package. Barcelona is a great test
track, because if your car is quick there it is normally quick
everywhere."
This is the home race for you and Fernando, how does
it feel to be back in Spain with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
team leading both the Constructors’ and Drivers’
Championships?
"It feels good. For me I am not racing, so I just hope
that Fernando and Lewis continue the trend of the first few
races."
The Circuit de Catalunya is your home track, what
are your favourite memories of the circuit?
"Unfortunately I haven’t had great memories at
this track. Since 1999 I’ve raced in several Grands
Prix there and I have only finished once. However, my favourite
memory would be when in qualifying in 2000 with Arrows when
I took ninth on the grid. It was quite remarkable to be in
the top ten with a car that was not one of the most competitive.
I have only raced once at the track outside of Formula 1,
in Formula Renault, that was at the debut race at the venue
in 1991. After that I went to Japan and England to race, so
whilst I know the circuit well as we have tested there many
times, I have not raced there much."
Can you outline the changes that have been made to
the track, and how do you feel about them?
"The biggest change is the new chicane and this will
be the first time we are racing with it. Basically we have
lost the two high speed corners that lead you into the main
straight. I think it is positive, because it means you will
be able to get close to the guy in front and if you have a
quicker car you can actually overtake into turn one. One of
the characteristics of the Circuit de Catalunya has always
been that the two high speed corners before the main straight
are so difficult to get close to the guy in front, so you
can’t overtake. It is safer first of all, and then,
just as importantly, it is better for the spectators. It will
give them the chance to see some overtaking, when at the Spanish
Grand Prix, qualifying has been traditionally so important,
because your starting position tended to be your finishing
position. It will be much more open now."
Have the Spanish fans continued to get behind and
support the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team since the launch?
"It is difficult for me to judge. When we went to Valencia
the launch was spectacular. The response from the public towards
the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, towards Fernando, Lewis,
Gary and myself was incredible. I haven’t actually been
back to Spain since as I have been travelling with the team!
It will be interesting for me to see what the support will
be like now in Barcelona. In Valencia it was just incredible
and I hope that feeling has grown across Spain."
What do you think it means to the Spanish nation
to have two home drivers in the team?
"I think Spain feels very proud of firstly Fernando and
also me. I am seen as someone who is helping their hero and
our team to win. They understand my role in the team, and
it is a very good response from the people."
What will be your role at the 2007 Spanish Grand
Prix?
"The first reason why I am there is of course to act
as reserve driver, so if there are any problems for Fernando
or Lewis I can jump into one of the cars. That is the main
reason. Then I am in the meetings with Bridgestone and the
engineering debriefs, mainly listening, sometimes there will
be questions relating to my experience with the car. Also,
I will be able to unload the drivers of some of the media
work, which is good as they are the guys who are going to
sit in the car on Sunday and it is good to be helpful."
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