Dennis: de la Rosa has McLaren future
McLaren boss Ron Dennis says his team would reconsider Pedro de la Rosa's position if the decision to give Lewis Hamilton a race drive proves a mistake
Dennis reckons, however, that with Fernando Alonso as the leading driver, McLaren are taking a very small risk in putting rookie Hamilton in the second car.
Briton Hamilton will be the first rookie driver to start a season with McLaren since 1993, when Michael Andretti raced for the team.
Hamilton, this year's GP2 champion, beat Spaniard de la Rosa to the racing seat, but Dennis claims that McLaren could review their options if it proves too early for Hamilton to race in F1.
"De la Rosa is part of our family. He has a lot of talent, he did a great job last season and he is very skilled when setting up a car. He's a McLaren ambassador, he has his future secured in the company and he's a good friend," Dennis told As newspaper.
"And there's a chance that, if it turns out we made a mistake, we could reconsider him for the racing seat. But we had to take the risk. With Alonso's strength, the risk was very low."
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