Dennis: Driver Decision 'Painful'

Test driver Pedro de la Rosa's impressive performance in the Bahrain Grand Prix, which earned him rave reviews as the star of the race, was enough to prove that he is worthy of consideration to race again if Montoya is absent.

But with McLaren's official reserve driver Alexander Wurz having comfortably topped the times during Friday practice, the team are well aware that there is no obvious choice to take the race seat.

Speaking after the race, where de la Rosa grabbed fifth place after a battling drive through the field, Dennis said he was hoping that the team would not have to make the choice and that Montoya would be fit to race.

"The reality is that they've both done a great job," said Dennis about the performance of Wurz and de la Rosa. "Of course let's hope it is not a decision that we will have to take. And, if it is, then it's a decision that won't cause us any pain."

Although de la Rosa ran off the track twice at the first corner in his attempts to move up the field, Dennis had nothing but praise for the Spaniard's fighting spirit as he brought the car home in the points.

"It was a tremendous drive, from beginning to end," said Dennis. "He didn't put a foot wrong. Of course he got it wrong on the brakes a couple of times, but that means he was trying and that's the most important thing, to try. And his fastest lap was a great credit to him.

"He was extremely good throughout the weekend, but he struggled quite a bit with tyre vibration when he flat spotted his tyres. He didn't even know which position he had finished, because his eyes were so shaken he couldn't read the pit board. So it was a pleasant surprise for him that he was fifth."