Dec.7 (GMM) Returning to his test and reserve role at McLaren is reportedly Pedro de la Rosa's 'plan B' for the 2011 season.

Although earlier linked with HRT for next season, the Spanish veteran has now acknowledged that most of the remaining vacancies on the grid are "reserved for drivers that come with a sponsor".

"If in the end I have to be a reserve or a tester, I will, but first I will try everything (to race)," added 39-year-old de la Rosa.

Spain's Diario AS sports newspaper claims that 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton has told McLaren that it should offer de la Rosa his former long-time third driver post for 2011.

"I am trying hard to be racing, but if it doesn't happen it is not the end of the world," de la Rosa is quoted as saying.

"I am calm because I know what I'll do if I don't find a team to race with," he revealed.

It is also reported that de la Rosa's contract as Pirelli test driver ends on 31 December, and that Romain Grosjean will be driving the 2009 Toyota during the tyre test in Bahrain next week.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version