''We gave Pedro a great opportunity in 2006''Ron Dennis has told the Spanish media that he stands by his decision to choose Lewis Hamilton over Pedro de la Rosa to be
Fernando Alonso's team-mate in 2007.
While Spain laments the fact that two countrymen nearly fronted
one of F1's top teams, the McLaren boss argues that test driver de la Rosa, 35, was given a "great opportunity" in the Woking based race seat this year.
"We gave Pedro a great opportunity in 2006," Dennis told the Spanish broadcaster Telecinco, "and now we are giving one to Lewis."
Rookie Hamilton, 21, won the GP2 championship this year, but influential sections of the specialist Spanish media maintain that opting for de la Rosa's experience would have been the wisest choice for the Mercedes-powered team.
Dennis, 59, insisted: "The decision we made was not solely instinctual, but also based on ability.
"We also did not want to park Lewis at another team because we have invested so much into him that we did not want spoiled by bad advice."
Source GMM
