26/06/2013
NEWS STORY
Even though he has another year on his contract, Paul di Resta has been assured that his team would not bar his way should a ‘big team’ come calling.
While Nico Hulkenberg rues his move from the Silverstone outfit to Sauber, di Resta is still clearly miffed that there were no suitable job offers for him, the Scot hoping for a call from Mercedes or McLaren.
Talking ahead of the Scot's home Grand Prix, Force India team principal Bob Fernley told the Press Association that di Resta's future is essentially in his own hands.
"Paul is contracted to us anyway for next season, so the question is whether somebody else comes in, so it won't be our decision," he said. "Whether Paul has to be released, or whatever, that can only come from him.
"But we wouldn't stand in his way," he continued. "That's not our policy. If a driver feels he is better somewhere else, what would be the point in keeping him? We proved that at the end of last year with Nico Hulkenberg. Did we want to lose Nico? Not at all. He was a great member of our team, but we didn't get in the way of that particular move. We then proved by bringing in Adrian we are capable of recovering from such a situation and carrying on as normal.
"Maybe Nico is asking a few questions himself today," he added, a clear reference to the German's plight at Sauber, "although last year it didn't look such a bad option."
However, in the long run, staying with Force India might be the best option, the Silverstone outfit is currently fifth in the championship, showing McLaren a clean pair of heels and setting its sights on Lotus and Mercedes.
"I don't think we should be frightened of anything," said Fernley. "We've been on every variation of track over the seven races so far and we've performed well at all of them.
"I think we can hold our Top Ten qualifying position, assuming we can get that bit right, and it will all fall out in the race again. We are genuinely the fifth quickest team out there at the moment. I don't think there is any doubt about that."