20/07/2012
NEWS STORY
The British Grand Prix may have ended in retirement for Paul di Resta but the Force India driver has taken heart from the improved showing from his Force India in recent races.
It was the Scot's first DNF in twenty-three races, and only his second in his Formula One career. "I had quite a good long standing run there of finishes but you've got to accept that things like that happen," he said ahead of this weekend's German Grand Prix. "It's the first Grand Prix I've not ever really completed since I've started.
"It was a puncture. I feel it wasn't my fault, it's just unfortunate trying to get it back to the pits it damaged quite a lot of the floor but when it happens so early on in the lap it was always going to be a fight."
It was a disappointing end to a less than spectacular weekend. "If you look back it was a dull weekend all round; not running, the weather… The only good thing was the crowd. You get weekends like that and it tests you but you've got to pick yourself up and come here.
"It generally always happens at the weekends you don't want it to happen. But you've just got to pick yourself up. I'm not saying it's fortunate to happen very early on, but it kind of remains unknown what any of it was so just to get it out your mind immediately and really look forward to the next one."
Force India has slowly gathered momentum as the season has worn on. Competitive in Valencia before tyre issues saw him drop down the order late on, the team is beginning to show its potential. "I think we are a team that probably start a little bit slower and tend to develop more through the year through to the end.
"I think Williams at the moment are showing to be very strong," he continued. "I think we've been stronger in the last couple of races.
"It's all about if your car suits the track more than others that's the difference between whether you're in front of your competitors or not."
With a methodical and consistent approach, di Resta has been touted as a possible replacement for Michael Schumacher, should the German opt to retire. The 26-year-old has also been linked with a move to fill Lewis Hamilton's shoes, should the 2008 world champion decide to switch camps.
It would seem a strange time then for the Scot to part ways with his manager, as he did in the lead up to the British Grand Prix. Now without representation within the paddock di Resta realises a decision on his future, and his management, needs to be taken in short order.
"Like anything, you'd rather know," he admitted. "I think you need to weigh up your options at any given point.
"I'm just driving away myself at the moment," he added. "At the end of the day it's the results I need to concentrate on.
"I'll need to decide pretty quickly what way I want to go, but it's all just happening at the moment at the background.
"The biggest thing for me is making sure I'm in a Formula One car next year."