Pedro de la Rosa (born 24 February 1971) is a former Spanish Formula One driver who has taken part in 107 Grands Prix for the Arrows, Jaguar, McLaren, Sauber and HRT teams. He made his Formula One debut on 7 March 1999, becoming one of seventy-six drivers to score a point in his first race.
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As a racer, a tester, and now a TV pundit, Pedro de la Rosa continues to live and breathe Formula 1. This time, Pedro de la Rosa shares his fantasy Formula 1 set with us.
DRIVERS
Ayrton Senna and Fernando Alonso
Senna because he’s always been my idol, and he is a racing standard that helped me or at least I’ve tried to resemble him during my racing career. He’s particularly important and I consider him one of the greatest drivers.
Alonso because he has the ingredients of a modern driver. He’s a driver devoted to working, he’s physically fit, well trained in sims, and he likes to compete in racing sims (e-sports). He’s greatly adaptable to any car, any type of tyres, and any weather: if it rains, it’s dry, or on dry surfaces. He’s always strong and for me, he’s currently the most complete driver.
DESIGNER
In my fantasy team, no doubt I would always have Adrian Newey, because I was lucky to work with him in McLaren in 2003, 2004, and 2005. All the cars he designed were aerodynamically the best. Along with him, I would have (Patrick Allen) “Paddy” Lowe. When Adrian Newey left, Lowe took up the torch in McLaren. Hence, they are two technical directors that I knew well. They’re the best that I’ve ever worked with.
TEAM OWNER
I would take Ron Dennis because he’s the most detail-oriented team owner that I’ve seen in my life. He’s obsessed with cleanliness, tidiness, and neatness, which I think is an indispensable element to make winning cars.
He used to look at all details from how we dressed, how we ate, and how it was our hairstyle, but you need that kind of boss to reach a grade of excellence. He always used to say: “A clean car is faster than a dirty car.” In addition, a clean car is more reliable, because when you clean it, you can detect small cracks and small issues that otherwise you wouldn’t see them.
TEAM PRINCIPAL
No doubt Martin Whitmarsh, who is now CEO of Aston Martin and I know him very well because my tenure in McLaren was under his leadership. He was Ron Dennis’ right hand. Dennis would put discipline and order, Martin knew where to put the best people in the…
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