Paul Di Resta on the verge of winning Formula 1 seat

Published on Sunday 17 January 2010 23:19

MOTORSPORT: Bathgate's Paul Di Resta is on the verge of confirming his switch to Formula One after stating he is "90 per cent of the way" towards being appointed test/reserve driver for the Silverstone-based Force India team.

The 23-year-old Scot, a member of the Mercedes Young Driver Development Programme and who impressed the team during a three-day test at Jerez in Spain last month, believes it will mark the breakthrough which will finally get him on the F1 grid.

"Since the test for sure we have been in talks. I would say we are about 90 per cent there. We are in the final stages of finishing off for the programme they have set and hopefully we can build a very long and strong relationship for me to try and race with Force India in the future."

Di Resta is known to be the young driver who insiders at Mercedes, including motorsport boss Norbert Haug, believe has the biggest chance of graduating to F1. The youngster also impressed when he tested a Mercedes-powered McLaren in 2008.