F1 News - Returning drivers need year to be back on pace - de la Rosa - July, 2010
Jul.9 (GMM) Pedro de la Rosa insists a driver making a comeback to formula one needs a full year to get back up to speed.
The highest profile returnee in 2010 is Michael Schumacher, but Spaniard de la Rosa - two years younger than the great German - is also back in F1 full-time after seven years as McLaren's test driver."At the highest level it is not easy," the Sauber driver said at Silverstone."As the season goes on it is getting better. After a few races you are simply not yet right back on top," added de la Rosa."To really be there again, you need a full year."De la Rosa insists he was never completely away from the cockpit; he was regularly at the wheel of McLaren's state-of-the-art simulator, and occasionally tested on track.But "in order to really compete with these guys, you probably need a whole year," he added.