Pedro de la Rosa being signed up by Sauber to drive for the team in Formula 1 this year is a good thing. When he got the chance to race during his long stint as McLaren reserve driver, he performed rather well, unlike certain reserve drivers last season. So it’s an opportunity well deserved.

McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh agrees, though goes rather overboard in talking about de la Rosa on autosport.com:

“He’s been a fantastic team player for the past seven years, has contributed a huge amount to our successes in that time, and will remembered by all at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes as not only an esteemed colleague but also as a good friend.”

Someone should tell Whitmarsh that de la Rosa has only moved along the pit lane, not died.