Pedro de la Rosa, who is currently the third driver for the McLaren Mercedes team has made it public that he is very keen to achieve the preferential seat left by Alonso just recently. In 1998 De la Rosa decided to move to Formula One as a test driver. And in 1999 he became part of the Arrows team to later joined Jaguar Racing but his stay was not pleasant, therefore, in 2005 he became a test driver for McLaren scoring some important points while at his debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix.



De La Rosa has participated in eight Grand Prix for McLaren in 2006 after Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya quit the Mercedes-powered team searching for a new career in NASCAR. "My dream has always been to race and, naturally, it is that possibility that keeps me going as a test driver," added the Spaniard. "I'll try, of course I will."

Unfortunately for the driver he was also implicated in the spying controversy surrounding his team and rivals Ferrari. After the investigations; it was determined De la Rosa sent e-mails to Mike Coughlan and Fernando Alonso regarding the Ferrari cars setup. But after the double world champion Alonso split with McLaren just last week the team has not yet named a substitute and Williams appeared to have ruled out one of the top candidates when they confirmed Germany's Nico Rosberg in their 2008 line up on Wednesday.

McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh stated the team has mentioned interested drivers they cannot talk to them unless they can prove they are free to negotiate. Therefore, it will take longer than expected to learn the name of the next driver.

"For me it has been a pleasure to work with him (Alonso) and from now on each follows his own path," he said. "I have two more years on my contract with McLaren and want to win the title that we failed to win this year."