Sebastien Vettel finished runner-up to Jenson Button in the 2009 Formula One title race. Vettel is running 23.
At 23, Paul di Resta seems too old to make a prodigious entry into Formula One. His peer in the Euroseries in 2006, Sebastien Vettel finished runner-up to Jenson Button in the 2009 Formula One title race. Vettel is running 23.
But glance back a few years and one realises why Di Resta is special, though Vettel beat him to Formula One. Four years ago, Di Resta beat teammate Vettel to the Euroseries title.
His talent is rather unmistakable and none other than Mercedes believes in his abilities behind the wheel. Like in the case of Lewis Hamilton, who was groomed by McLaren, Di Resta has enjoyed the backing of the racing bosses of the three-pointed star.
After three-years in the DTM championship in Germany, the Scot, on Tuesday, realised his dream of making it to Formula One. He was unveiled as Force India’s test driver for the 2010 season starting on March 14 in Bahrain.
“Being a Test driver for sure is a step in the right direction. I hope we can build a strong, long-term partnership. I hope to get a race seat soon,” Di Resta told DNA from London.
Force India COO Otmar Szafnauer is impressed with what he sees. “We chose Paul as he was the quickest and was very professional in the way he approached the task in hand. We saw great potential in him. There are a lot of young drivers out there with a lot of money but our interest was in those who had potential. Paul was the person who exhibited that.” Szafnauer asserted that Di Resta’s signing had nothing to do with Force India-Mercedes tie-up.
With ban on testing limiting the role of the test driver, Di Resta hopes to gain some valuable track time during Friday’s free practice sessions. “Though I’m a reserve driver I will try to gain as much experience as possible should I need to stand-in during the season. Free practice sessions on Friday will definitely help,” Di Resta said.
Invited to try out for the team alongside reigning Indy Lights champion JR Hildebrand as part of the F1 young driver test at Jerez in December 2009, the young Scot was a second quicker than his American counterpart on each of the three days.
Kazuki Nakajima, Kamui Kobayashi, Sebastien Buemi and Romain Grosjean raced with him in the 2006 Euroseries but made their Formula One debut before Di Resta.
But Di Resta doesn’t feel like he has missed out. “I don’t feel I’ve lost some years. Vettel for sure has achieved a lot in a short time in F1 and all credit to him. But I’ve enjoyed my racing in DTM series. Now that I’m involved in Formula One I can stay there and develop a long term future.”
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