Rodriguez to move into F1

[Dare]

this catch you off guard Ali
Eurosport - Tue, 30 Oct 15:16:00 2007
GP2 ace Roldan Rodriguez has reportedly signed a deal to race for Force India in Formula One next year.

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The Spaniard has been linked with the team, formerly known as Spyker, for a number of weeks.

"I think so," Rodriguez told El Pais when asked whether he felt ready to step up into the top flight.

"When you make the leap into GP2 you have to know that the opportunity [to move into F1] can present itself.

"I knew that and I have tried to prepare myself since the start of the year in case the opportunity arose.

"The truth is that I found out because someone read what the new owner of the team [Vijay Mallya] had said: that he wanted to count on me for 2008.

"When I heard that, at first I didn't believe it; but it's true that he said it."

Rodriguez's best finish for Minardi Piquet Sports last season was third place in Hungary's sprint outing.

The Valladolid native refused to set any specific goals for next season.

"I simply want to achieve the maximum," he stressed. "I don't want to commit to anything.

"If the car is capable of 21st place in the race, I want to try to be 18th. I am not going to say I will be ninth, fifth or 20th.

"The target is to learn the maximum, as always, and also to take advantage of every race as if it was the last one, do the best I can and squeeze the maximum out of the car."

[Alianora La Canta]

Er... yes, dare, it has caught me off-guard. Especially when Roldan doesn't actually mention he's got an F1 race drive anywhere in his comments. We already know he's got a Spyker contract for 2008, but the fact that Schumacher and several other people have been invited to the November test says that the race seat next to Sutil is still open. Testers are really important, and I'm sure Vijay will be counting on Roldan, but that is not the same as saying that Roldan has an F1 race seat. If he had, nobody would be able to shut him up for a while, surely...