De la Rosa warns against McLaren move for Sainz

Pedro de la Rosa is not sure an all-Spanish driver lineup at McLaren next year would be a "dream".

Carlos Sainz is being linked with the seat alongside his friend and countryman Fernando Alonso at McLaren for 2019.


Some in Spain might consider it a dream team, but former F1 driver de la Rosa is not so sure.

"A dream? I think it would be better if they were not together," he told Cadena Ser radio.

"Being Fernando's teammate is very difficult, so I prefer that someone other than Carlos suffers. I would prefer if Carlos gathers two or three more years of experience and then face a beast like Fernando," de la Rosa added.

But he said that if Sainz is ousted by Renault, the Spaniard should not worry about being spat out by F1.

"If Renault makes the mistake of letting Carlos go, he has still earned his place in F1," de la Rosa said.

More broadly, the former McLaren driver said the fight for the world championship will still be closely fought, even though Lewis Hamilton is running away with the points lead.

"Mercedes is winning where Ferrari should, so the great drama for Vettel is that despite having the best car he has 24 points less," said de la Rosa.

"There's still a long way to go and everything will be decided over details at the last race," he predicted.

It's a fair point. While I think that Stoffel has had a bad year, I don't think it's been a dreadful year. It's just that Alonso is so good and consistent that over time looking at the points tally it looks like Stoffel has been terrible.

  • 1
  • Aug 1 2018 - 15:41

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • It's a fair point. While I think that Stoffel has had a bad year, I don't think it's been a dreadful year. It's just that Alonso is so good and consistent that over time looking at the points tally it looks like Stoffel has been terrible.

    • + 1
    • Aug 1 2018 - 15:41
    • As I said in a post yesterday, Alonso is doing the difference in that car. Stoffel's pace is probably the more accurate representation of how that car performs.

      • + 0
      • Aug 1 2018 - 18:08

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 620
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 191
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (44)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar