Di Resta's price of ambitionposted in F129 | 05 | 2011

BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA was left reflecting on the "ambitious driving" which he acknowledged cost him a healthy points finish in today's Monaco Grand Prix, the Blue Riband race of the Formula One season.

The 25-year-old, who started the race round the streets of the millionaires' paradise from 14th on the grid, collided with Jaime Alguersuari's Toro Rosso at the Loews hairpin on lap 24.

But not only did the impact cause him to pit to have a new nosecone fitted to his Force India, but he was also given a drive-through penalty for causing it.

Such was Di Resta's burning desire to impress on his Monaco race debut that he was involved in a near-identical incident with Jerome d'Ambrosio's Virgin at the same corner; again the impact damaged his nose and he receiving a second drive-through penalty.

Frustratingly, he eventually finished 12th, just two places outside the points. To rub further salt into the wound, his team-mate Adrian Sutil ran fourth for much of the race before having to settle for seventh after suffering a late puncture.

"I think it was all running quite smoothly to begin with and our strategy seemed to be going well," Di Resta explained.

"After my first pitstop the team told me that to make the strategy work I needed to pass Alguersuari, so I tried to overtake him at the hairpin. That's when I made contact and damaged my front wing, which is why I had to make an early second stop.

"I have to hold my hands up for this accident because I was probably a bit too ambitious. It's a shame because the car was working well and without this incident I think I could have scored some points."

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Jim McGill