Berlin - Ferrari has signed Pedro de la Rosa as test driver for the 2013 Formula One season, for which they will launch the new car on February 1.
Ferrari said that team principal Stefano Domenicali made the announcements on Wednesday at the team's annual press ski meeting in the Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio.
De La Rosa, 41, was without a job for 2013 after his previous team HRT withdrew from the sport for financial reasons. The Spaniard has competed in 106 Grand Prix races for various teams, with his best result a second-place finish in Hungary 2006.
WHY DID THEY HIRE HIM?
“We decided to add De La Rosa to our group of drivers mainly to strengthen one area, namely work in the simulator, which with the current regulations regarding testing, is becoming ever more important,” Domenicali said.
Domenicali also said that Ferrari will unveil the 2013 car for their drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa on February 1, with the first pre-season tests to start on February 5 in Jerez, Spain.
Ferrari last won the world title in 2007 from Kimi Raikkonen. Alonso came second behind Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in 2010 and 2012.
The three-times reigning champion Vettel will have his car unveiled on February 3, while the other top team McLaren will launch their 2013 model on January 31. -Sapa-dpa