Pedro de la Rosa has urged Spain not to rest on its laurels following the success of Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. The former Formula 1 driver, now an Aston Martin ambassador, believes his country must invest in young talent to avoid losing momentum on the global motorsport stage.
Alonso, who began his F1 career in 2001, has transformed the face of motorsport in Spain. His two World Championships in 2005 and 2006 made him one of the country's most treasured exports, especially given his longevity. Recently, at 45, he became the 14th-oldest driver to score points after finishing in the Dutch Grand Prix.
Sainz is equally important. The son of rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr has four Grand Prix victories and has driven for top teams like McLaren, Ferrari, and now Williams. Sainz is also an ambassador for the Madring circuit, which will host its inaugural Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.
Speaking exclusively to Motorsport Week at the Madring, de la Rosa praised the organisers for completing the circuit in such a short time. "Well, I think it's amazing what they have achieved in such a short time," he said. "I haven't followed the project on a regular basis, but I could see when I was coming to Madrid and going to the airport, passing through with a taxi, that they were pushing the limits and trying as fast as they could to get everything ready."
De la Rosa, who raced for teams including Arrows, Jaguar, and McLaren, added that projects like this make him very proud. "Once we arrived here, I can only say, 'well done'. Because projects like this make me very proud, especially how good the track is, but especially how good the infrastructure is. All the hospitality, the paddock, the corporate units, everything looks really outstanding," he said.
The Madring becomes the sixth venue for the Spanish Grand Prix, and possibly the most unique with its hybrid street profile taking in notable parts of the city. However, de la Rosa stressed the importance of financial support for young drivers to climb the motorsport ladder and be ready to replace Alonso and Sainz as national heroes.
"It's the second Grand Prix in my home country, which is amazing," he said. "Because it's difficult to have one, but two is like a dream. It just proves how strong Formula 1 is in Spain right now. But it's just a reminder that we should not fall asleep."
De la Rosa's call serves as a wake-up call for Spain to continue building a sustainable motorsport ecosystem. Without proper investment, Spain risks losing its place on the global racing map after the Alonso and Sainz era ends.
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