Third man Paul Di Resta bides his time in F1
Written By
DNA Web Team
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Di Resta will be taking part in Friday practice at Silverstone as part of a programme drawn up by his Force India team to help get their reserve driver up to speed at a time when testing is banned.
One day, maybe even next season, Paul di Resta hopes to form a British trio on the Formula One starting grid with world champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
Until then, one morning is all the young Scot gets on a grand prix weekend to show what he has to offer.
Di Resta will be taking part in Friday practice at Silverstone as part of a programme drawn up by his Force India team to help get their reserve driver up to speed at a time when testing is banned.
A cousin of Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, the 24-year-old has already taken part in Friday sessions at other races but this week will be special as a chance for home fans to assess the man who could be the nation's next grand prix regular.
"Hopefully it is all building up to be racing next year," Di Resta told Reuters. "All I can say is that I cross my fingers for the future and hope to be on that F1 grid at some time."
A cousin of Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, the 24-year-old has already taken part in Friday sessions at other races but this week will be special as a chance for home fans to assess the man who could be the nation's next grand prix regular.
"Hopefully it is all building up to be racing next year," Di Resta told Reuters. "All I can say is that I cross my fingers for the future and hope to be on that F1 grid at some time."
Scotland has provided two of Britain's greatest Formula One champions, with Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart, as well as retired grand prix winner David Coulthard, and Di Resta longs to follow in their footsteps.
"My main focus now is just doing the best job I can to impress teams so hopefully they will give me the chance to be in the race seat," said Di Resta, who walked the new Silverstone layout on Thursday.
"My main focus now is just doing the best job I can to impress teams so hopefully they will give me the chance to be in the race seat," said Di Resta, who walked the new Silverstone layout on Thursday.
"Everything is going on target just now, I just hope it keeps continuing.
"It's been a difficult challenge, because all the tracks have been new and every situation is new. You are up against drivers who are driving at grands prix every weekend," he added.
"But I've learned five new tracks and I've taken part and the team have been able to use me."
Busy schedule
The Scot, a former karting contemporary of Hamilton, is also competing for Mercedes in the German Touring Car (DTM) championship, which leaves him with a hectic schedule.
"My main thing this year was to become Force India reserve driver," he said. "I am racing DTM on both accounts. Force India wanted to keep me racing and in a competitive environment and equally Mercedes wanted me to race for them.
"There is not really a conflict. The travelling is a bit more stress for me but it's good positive stress and keeps me in a racing environment."
"It's been a difficult challenge, because all the tracks have been new and every situation is new. You are up against drivers who are driving at grands prix every weekend," he added.
"But I've learned five new tracks and I've taken part and the team have been able to use me."
Busy schedule
The Scot, a former karting contemporary of Hamilton, is also competing for Mercedes in the German Touring Car (DTM) championship, which leaves him with a hectic schedule.
"My main thing this year was to become Force India reserve driver," he said. "I am racing DTM on both accounts. Force India wanted to keep me racing and in a competitive environment and equally Mercedes wanted me to race for them.
"There is not really a conflict. The travelling is a bit more stress for me but it's good positive stress and keeps me in a racing environment."
Di Resta's hopes of a drive with Force India depend on either Adrian Sutil or Vitantonio Liuzzi moving on and neither is likely to move out of choice with few good openings elsewhere and their current team on the rise.
Italian Liuzzi will be sitting out Friday first practice at Silverstone and also in Germany in two weeks'' time because that is Sutil's home race.
Force India are sixth in the championship, with Sutil scoring 31 points so far to Liuzzi's 12.
Di Resta has been quick in the practice sessions that he has done despite having to look after a car that will be raced by someone else.
Di Resta has been quick in the practice sessions that he has done despite having to look after a car that will be raced by someone else.
"You always have to be a bit safer in some places than other people are, not to crash," he said. "We are learning and each time I get in it seems a bit better.