Pedro de la Rosa has admitted to frustration after missing out on the vacant McLaren race seat alongside Fernando Alonso in 2007.
The GP2 champion and rookie Lewis Hamilton has been appointed to the ride, with 35-year-old de la Rosa – a Spaniard – forced to resume his role as a test driver.
“I have to accept it, because I work for the team, but it is difficult to accept,” de la Rosa told the Diario As newspaper on Wednesday.
Briton Hamilton confessed to reporters at the Barcelona test this week that ‘tension’ had crept into his relationship with de la Rosa as the pair positioned for the seat.
De la Rosa continued: “I am going to keep my personal opinion to myself, but I had certain hopes (for the seat).”
He said he was telephoned ‘by (Martin) Whitmarsh’ with the bad news last Friday.
“I don’t remember the words that were spoken, I only remember the name being said and it was not mine,” Pedro lamented.
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
