Aston Martin have announced that Pedro de la Rosa has joined the squad as a Team Ambassador. In a newly created role, the Spaniard – who took part in 104 Grands Prix during his Formula 1 career – will undertake a mixture of communications, media, PR, marketing, promotional, commercial and general advisory duties for the team. Alongside this, de la Rosa is set to lend his experience to the outfit's new Driver Development Programme, where he will help to select, train and develop junior talent. The 51-year-old raced for teams including Arrows, McLaren and Sauber between 1999 and 2012, and recorded his best-ever result by finishing second at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix. He also worked extensively as a test and simulator driver, having completed more than 65,000 miles through testing.
De la Rosa believes in Aston Martin's potential
De la Rosa says he is "delighted" to be joining Aston Martin, and is looking forward to reuniting with some former colleagues including two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso, who will race for the team from 2023 onwards. "I already know many faces within the team, having worked extensively with Fernando Alonso during my time at McLaren and Ferrari, and I look forward to getting to know everyone within the organisation," de la Rosa said. "I will draw on my experience and expertise to help the team grow and further develop the momentum it has been gathering ahead of the 2023 season, with a particular eye on supporting the marketing and commercial side of the business." Aston Martin currently sit P7 in the 2022 Constructors' Championship, but de la Rosa believes there is great potential in the team. "It is clear to me that the potential of AMF1 is huge, and that the appointment of a brilliant roster of new technical leaders and new corporate partners, and next year's arrival of Fernando, further strengthen the team's resource and resolve to succeed," he added. "I am looking forward to working with Fernando, my old friend and fellow countryman, as you might expect, and also Lance Stroll, a gifted racer who has won all the junior categories on his way to Formula 1. "It is the perfect time to be joining the organisation and I will be working hard to make sure that we maximise every opportunity as together we build for an exciting future."
Aston Martin confident de la Rosa can aid improvement
Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack has welcomed the arrival of de la Rosa, and expects that his experience will help the team in continuing to improve. "Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula 1 Team's appointment of Pedro de la Rosa once again underlines our determination to build and strengthen every element of our Formula 1 operation," Krack said. "Pedro's role as Team Ambassador will be central to our efforts to improve the work we do with our partners, engage with media and fans, and launch our new Driver Development Programme. "No-one in Formula 1 would deny Pedro's expertise and experience – they are second to none – and I am confident that he will not only deliver for us within the remit of his role but will also find new ways to help us develop and improve in other areas. "He is a fantastic addition to our team."
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