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Pedro de la Rosa rejoins McLaren

Pedro de la Rosa helped to develop the new Pirelli tyres over the winter © Pirelli

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• Drivers:
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Pedro de la Rosa has returned to McLaren as its official test and reserve driver.

De la Rosa was with the team from 2003 until he was signed up to race for Sauber last year, but will now revert to his old position to help develop the current MP4-26 with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

"Of all the teams I've driven for in Formula 1, McLaren s the one that really feels like home," de la Rosa said. "So I'm very excited about returning to the team to help push the development of the MP4-26.

"Lewis and Jenson already have an extremely positive and productive working relationship - so, building on and adding to their existing rapport, I'm aiming to do everything I can to help them get even more from our car, our engineers and our technical resources back at the McLaren Technology Centre."

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh welcomed de la Rosa back in to the team, while also confirming that Gary Paffett would be retained.

"I know I speak for all my colleagues when I say that I'm delighted that Pedro has chosen to return to McLaren." Whitmarsh said. "He rejoins us with even greater experience, and his motivation and attention to detail remain as sharp as ever. His recruitment adds considerable strength in depth to our driver line-up. With two world champion race drivers in Lewis and Jenson, and two of the world's most experienced and capable development drivers in Pedro and Gary, we feel we have a quartet of talent that is absolutely second-to-none."

"Meanwhile, we wish Gary a very successful season in the DTM series with Mercedes-Benz - and are delighted that, away from the world's racetracks, he'll continue to give us the benefit of his considerable technical and developmental abilities."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.