The highest ranking Spanish motor racing official admits Pedro de la Rosa is facing an uphill battle to be named Lewis Hamilton's new McLaren team-mate for 2008.

Carlos Gracia, President of the country's motor sports federation and a World Motor Sport Council member, told Radio Marca that the British team's veteran Spanish test driver is the logical choice to replace the departed Fernando Alonso next year.

He suggests, however, that F1 chiefs often 'lack common sense.'

"If things are decided by using common sense, then I would say it will be Pedro," Gracia said when asked who he thinks McLaren should replace Alonso with.

He added: "However, often in the world of F1, in some teams, common sense is the least prevalent of the senses."

De la Rosa's Formula One record shows 29 points from 72 starts, often without particularly competitive equipment. But at 37 years of age in February, the Spaniard cannot be considered a long-term option for McLaren Mercedes.