Formula 1: Paul Di Resta focused after link-up with Goddard

By IAN PARKES
Published on 21/09/2012 00:24

PAUL Di Resta heads into this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix at peace knowing his future is now being taken care of.

Di Resta had been without a manager for two months after firing Anthony Hamilton in July, an issue that will be heading to the High Court later this year. But, a fortnight ago, the Scot confirmed Richard Goddard, the man who has advised Jenson Button for the last few years, was taking over his affairs.

That has taken a weight off his shoulders as Goddard can start looking into Di Resta’s prospects of remaining at Force India next season, or whether there is availability elsewhere, possibly McLaren alongside Button should Lewis Hamilton decide to join Mercedes.

Di Resta said: “I now have 
people working in the background looking at where my future is going to be.

“At the moment I am a Force India driver and I have to concentrate and do the best job for them.

“I’m letting him [Goddard] do his bit. He is taking care of the other stuff because the most important thing has been to get myself prepared for this race.”

Di Resta also realises that, if there are suitors, it is far from a case of resting on past laurels. He has to continue to put himself in the shop window.

“There is always more you can do and prove and I want to do that for myself more than anything,” he added.

“Results are what make you thrive, make you enjoy the sport even more, and I obviously want to continue in Formula One. The only way to do that is by getting the results and putting in the performances which will then, hopefully, lead to race wins and titles.”

That would appear to make beating team-mate Nico Hulkenberg even more crucial given that the German is also being linked with a move away from Force India.

“You always want to beat your team-mate, and it’s been quite a good in-house battle this year,” said Di Resta. “We’ve both come up from grassroots, both done the same things to get here. He’s had some good results, as have I. I can say I’ve been unlucky in certain circumstances, and he’ll probably say the same.”

Meanwhile, Ferrari’s championship leader Fernando Alonso and title contender Mark Webber of Red Bull say this weekend’s race could be the turning point of the season, ending McLaren’s recent dominance.

McLaren have won the past three races but both Ferrari and Red Bull are hoping the nature of the circuit in Singapore and subsequent races should negate McLaren’s advantages.

Alonso said: “It is true McLaren are in very good form and are favourites after the last two or three results but it is up to us to improve a little bit the pace and see what we can do.”

Ferrari have earmarked Singapore and the next two races in Japan and South Korea as the decisive period of the season.

“In this three-race trip, our aim is to win grands prix and to increase the lead. Seventy-five points on the table, so we need to maximise those,” added Alonso, who has a handy 37-point lead in the standings.

Despite not having won since the German Grand Prix, Alonso said: “I’m not under pressure at all. We have five or six contenders for the championship and seven races to go. It will be tight until the last race but I’m probably the only one who can afford one mistake or one retire, the others cannot.”

One of the others is Webber, whose title challenge has faltered since winning the British GP, having taken only 16 points from the past four grands prix.