De la Rosa Gives Thumbs Up to Pirelli's Wet Test [Gallery]

Pirelli's test driver Pedro de la Rosa shared his first impressions about the new wet tires developed by the Italian maker for the 2011 Formula 1 season. In an interview with British website Autosport, the Spanish driver was pleased with the way the Pirelli compound behaved throughout the 119 laps of wet running on the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.

The test organizers made sure the track was wet at all time via tankers placed alongside it, hosing the running surface. In addition, the test happened at night, in order for Pirelli to also evaluate the way artificial lighting affects visibility for drivers on a wet track.

“There has been a consistent level of water and that's always the most critical point of wet running. Different levels can make your results completely pointing in the wrong direction, so I was very pleased with how the circuit managed the water,” said De la Rosa, who will continue to test for Pirelli today, when his 2009-spec Toyota will wear intermediate tires.

Echoing the comments of Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery – who emphasized the importance of track conditions for these latest tests – De la Rosa further explained why the Italian maker chose Abu Dhabi as its preferred venue for wet and intermediate tire testing.

“Track temperature is everything for tire testing. You always have to think what you will find during the year. Formula 1 races in hot climates, we follow the summer periods so always higher temperatures,” he added.

“But the problem [testing in Europe] is you are picking out your compounds for the whole season in the south of Spain - which is the warmest in Europe, but the track temperature you find there is 15, maximum 20, degrees. It's not enough. Then you go to Bahrain or places like this where you have 40 plus, and the tire's working range is completely different. That's why we came here.”