Di Resta: Exciting timesposted in F114 | 01 | 2012
BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA made his first appearance on the main stage at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham today (watch Paul's interview with David Coulthard).
Speaking to the thousands of fans in the arena, the 25-year-old Scot explained he was excited about having Nico Hulkenberg as his new team-mate at Sahara Force India this year, and believes the partnership will deliver positive results for the team.
"The board took the decision to bring Nico in," di Resta said, "and it should be exciting. It's a young team in terms of the driver line-up — we're both 25 and 24-years-old — but it should give the team a spark.
"We need to be good team-mates, work well together, but also have a competitive nature on track so we can bounce off each other.
"Personally, I don't see any reason why we can't do that and support each other. We're both on equal territory, as we have the same experience, so it should be good.
Back to work for Paul di Resta
"We're already working together, pushing ideas to the team to try and improve from last year and that is being taken on board.
"The team has also taken another step getting Sahara investment, and slowly in the background we will increase the competitiveness of our team.
"It won't be immediate, but the team is excited about its future and hopefully we can achieve fifth as a constructor.
"My second year is going to be where experience plays its part as well: I can arrive at grands prix this year and know what is going to change, what to look for and how to get the perfect balance.
"Getting that little extra edge is so difficult against these guys because they know it inside out.
"You can always learn and always make mistakes — it's about using that to your advantage to base decisions upon.
"You can also have tough races and easier ones — that's just the luck of the draw, and I'm very much of the opinion there has to be an element of luck in there to make sure things happen."
Scots F1 ace Paul di Resta: I'll be stronger in 2012
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Jim McGill