Di Resta has know-how for Hockenheim

Published on 20/07/2012 13:01

Bathgate’s Paul di Resta heads into this weekend’s German Grand Prix at Hockenheim eager to erase the memory of his Silverstone disappointment.

The 26-year-old’s British Grand Prix a fortnight ago lasted only four corners before he was forced to retire his Sahara Force India with a puncture.

“Silverstone was just one of those things which occasionally happens in motorsport,” he said. “This weekend though we’re at another circuit I know well, Hockenheim, where I’ve raced previously in DTM, so and I’m looking forward to getting out there in an F1 car.

“It’s a fun circuit with some challenging corners and it’s good for overtaking, especially the slow hairpin at turn six.

“We’re really determined to score good points this weekend. We’re still only three points adrift of Williams and 16 behind Sauber, so we have reasons to be optimistic for the second half of the season.”

And Di Resta heads into this weekend’s German Grand Prix with one eye on the race, and another on his plans for 2013.

The Scot has already been strongly linked with a switch to Mercedes GP for next year, and is understood to be on Ferrari’s radar. With Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa still to re-sign for the two teams, a third possibility lies at McLaren where Lewis Hamilton has yet to sign a contract for 2013.

But Di Resta’s focus remains on doing the best job he can for Sahara Force India.

“There’s a lot of talk about drivers moving at the moment,” the Scot said. “There are drives everywhere.”

Di Resta is acknowledged as the brightest young talent in Formula One at the moment, and is tipped as a future world champion. And though the Scot confirmed he is still working alone having recently split with his previous manager Anthony Hamilton he also explained he was taking advice from various parties including Jenson Button’s management.

But Di Resta, who charted his own progress through his early rising through Euro F3 and DTM, isn’t fazed by handling his own affairs.

“I’ve done it before, so it’s nothing new,” he continued.