Back to work for Di Restaposted in F111 | 01 | 2012

BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA has enjoyed a couple of weeks rest, mixed with intensive training sessions, but now it's back into a busy spell.

A seat-fitting at Sahara Force India's Silverstone HQ for the new 2012 race car, followed by appearances this Saturday and Sunday at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, all lead up to the first official F1 test at Jerez on February 7.

But before heading to Silverstone, the 25-year-old from Bathgate spoke with Jim McGill and reflected on 2011; his determination to be stronger and faster this season; coping with the demands on his time, and his goals for 2012.

JM: Have you been working on the simulator to develop the 2012 car?

PdR: I did a sim session a couple of weeks ago with the new car, and everything seemed fine. The strange thing is, at this stage of the car's development there's not really a lot you can do on the simulator. Most of the driver's input will happen once we start testing.

What was the biggest thing you learned last year, in relation to handling F1?

Using your free time to the maximum. I don't think anyone honestly appreciates just how busy and full-on the job is. You're on the go constantly. When you're on tour you're expected to be in peak physical condition: you need to be, whether it's at a PR event or a race weekend. Everything is so strictly timed and runs seamlessly, that you need to be on the money.

Then, when you're off and it's your own time, I've had to learn to maximise that time and use it to sort out other areas of my life. It's crucial to allocate space and time to do that, otherwise the job could just become all-consuming.

But you've always been organised person?

Yes, I'm fortunate that I've always been a fairly organised and structured person. It's the way I've always been: it's just the way I am. I'm probably one of these people who prefers to be early rather than late.

What then would be the main difference starting your second season compared to starting your first 12 months ago?

For some reason, in any class I've ever driven in, when I've come back for the second year it always just seems a little bit different and a bit easier.

I don't know what the reason is: I guess you just grow and mature, and you understand where your strengths and weaknesses are. For some reason, when I then come back, I find, generally, I'm able to improve. I suppose I'm kind of keeping my fingers crossed that it happens again this year, and that everything runs just that little bit easier.

Do you then set yourself new goals?

I think you always have to set yourself higher goals than you achieved the year before: but whether it's possible or not to achieve them, only the performance of the car and how it pans out will tell. But you definitely go in with your sights set high.

Formula One is a ruthless business. Everyone can see how quickly things can turn around. It's not so long ago that the Red Bull domination was nowhere: yet for the past two seasons they've been the team to beat. No one saw that coming.

How's the car looking for next year?

It's on target for what we need to achieve. You're obviously relying on the other teams not to do such a good job, but I think our developments are moving on the way we planned them.

We've got our heads down: you just need to concentrate on your own car's development and see where we are at the first test. And that's exactly what we're doing.

In a couple of sentences, evaluate what you've achieved last year.

I would say it was a really positive 12 months. There were highs and lows, of course, but I enjoyed myself more than anything.

It's been a longterm ambition to become a Formula One racing driver, and getting into the team and the cars has always been my aim. To have achieved that is fantastic, but now I need to move on to the next level.

I've worked hard over the close season, and I'm fitter and stronger than I've ever been. Hopefully that, allied to the new car, will see me go even faster in 2012.

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Jim McGill