De la Rosa Encouraged by Race Finish

Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa was encouraged after finishing Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix, but the Jaguar driver claimed the team must raise their game to be able to fight for point-scoring positions.

De la Rosa, who is yet to score his first points of the 2002 season, enjoyed a trouble-free race, but could only finis down in a disappointing 14th position more than two laps behind the race winner.

The Catalan driver, who almost crashed into Toyota's Mika Salo during their second pit stop, claimed Sunday's Grand Prix was the most boring race he had ever taken part in but was satisfied to be able to make it to the end.

"That was probably the most boring race I have ever driven," said de la Rosa. "Despite being significantly quicker than some of the cars in front of me, there is just no way of getting around them at this circuit. The car felt OK and I suffered from no tyre problems.

"It's encouraging to finish a race, yes, but we need to get closer to the points fight and given the vast difference in the circuits we have left on the calendar, we will do everything in our power to boost our somewhat poor points tally."

Teammate Eddie Irvine completed another disappointing weekend for the Milton Keynes-based team, the veteran Irishman retiring from the race with a mechanical problem on lap 24 of the 77-lap event.

"It was a real shame to have retired in that manner, especially since the car felt so improved," he said. "I have had a terrible weekend here in Hungary and the car hadn't been to my liking until I began the installation lap just before the start of the race.

"That's when I remember thinking how improved it felt and I was actually looking forward to the race. The problem, however, came on lap 18 when I reported a misfire to the team. There is very little you can do under those circumstances and I had little choice but to retire on lap 24."