HRT focused on closing the gap

HRT’s Pedro de la Rosa claimed that his experience will be more valuable when the fledgling Spanish team is established at its new headquarters.

Despite being born and raised local to the Circuit de Catalunya, de la Rosa was eager to talk about HRT’s new headquarters in Madrid. The former McLaren man claimed his current role is essential the same as any other driver, but once his team are bedded into their new facility, he will be able to have more influence on development.

“Everything is new: we’re establishing ourselves; restructuring the team; we are growing,” he said. “Really, I’m not playing any different role than any other race driver would do: I’m part of the team; I’m a race driver; I’m experienced and if they need my advice on anything, I am there. But I’m not playing any special role other than driving as fast as I can and giving good feedback about the car.

“Gradually I will [have more influence. That’s the aim and that’s what I’m here for as well. But so far the team has been extremely busy trying to move into our new premises in Madrid, establish a structure, a ‘basement’ as I say, and after that we will grow gradually and that’s when I think my input will be, if possible, more beneficial. But so far the objective has been clear: we have to establish ourselves, we have to put in the groundwork for building more floors on top – but so far I’ve been very discreet and not in a very important position.”

When asked what would constitute a good year for HRT, the experienced Catalan declared he wasn’t certain of the answer: “I have no idea really. We are improving race by race. We have made the car a lot quicker. Don’t forget at the first grand prix we did not qualify and gradually we have been closing the gap to pole position. That’s what we have to aim for: race by race, closing the gap, making sure that our car is a little bit quicker than it was at the previous grand prix. After that, at the end of the year, we will see. We don’t have to set ourselves any targets other than making the team more competitive race by race.”