Pedro de la Rosa

Spanish F1 driver, Formula Nippon and Super GT champion, McLaren test driver and podium finisher.

Pedro Martínez de la Rosa (born 24 February 1971) is a Spanish former racing driver, motorsport executive and broadcaster. In Japanese motorsport, De la Rosa won the Formula Nippon Championship and the All-Japan GT Championship, both in 1997.

Quick Facts

Birth name: Pedro Martínez de la Rosa
Born: 24 February 1971
Birthplace: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Spouse: Maria Reyes Ventós (2003)
Children: 3
Relatives: Bruno del Pino (nephew)

Lore & Background

Born and raised in Barcelona, De la Rosa began his career in radio-controlled racing, winning several national and continental titles before moving into karting aged 17. He participated in 107 Grands Prix weekends for the Arrows, Jaguar, McLaren, Sauber and HRT teams. He made his Formula One debut at the 1999 Australian Grand Prix, scoring a point in his first race. He scored a total of 35 championship points, which includes a podium finish at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.

He is the first Spanish racing driver to win the Formula Nippon Championship, and also won the Super GT (formerly JGTC) in 1997. Upon retiring from motor racing, De la Rosa became a commentator and pundit for La Sexta, Telecinco, Movistar and DAZN. He founded Drivex in 2005, and served as technical and sporting director of Techeetah in Formula E during the 2018–19 season, winning the Formula E Teams' Championship. He has also been an ambassador for Aston Martin since 2022.

Reader's Guide

De la Rosa's first race appearance with McLaren was at the 2005 Bahrain Grand Prix, where he substituted for the injured Juan Pablo Montoya, finishing fifth and setting a lap record. He later raced for McLaren in 2006, scoring his only podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix. He also drove for Sauber in 2010–2011 and HRT in 2012.

Did You Know?

De la Rosa won three consecutive Spanish radio-controlled car championships between 1983 and 1985.
He was European and British Formula Renault champion in 1992.
He served as chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association from 2008 until 2010.