Di Resta: No1 focus for '13posted in F119 | 07 | 2012

BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA heads into this weekend's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim with one eye on the race, and another on his plans for 2013.

The 26-year-old from Bathgate has already been strongly linked with a switch to Mercedes GP for next year, and is understood to be on Ferrari's radar.

With Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa still to re-sign for the two teams, a third possibility lies at McLaren where Lewis Hamilton has yet to sign a contract for 2013.

But today Di Resta stressed his focus was on doing the best job he can for his current team, Sahara Force India.

"There's a lot of talk about drivers moving at the moment," the Scot said. "There are drives everywhere.

"It's fairly confusing what is going on at the moment, even with Lewis. I don't think anybody has an indication of who is going in which direction.

"I honestly don't know where everything is. It's about seeing what stability is around and what is happening with everybody."

Di Resta is acknowledged as the brightest young talent in Formula One at the moment, and is tipped as a future world champion.

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And though the Scot confirmed he is still working alone — having recently split with his previous manager Anthony Hamilton — he also explained he was taking advice from various parties including Jenson Button's management.

But Di Resta, who charted his own progress through his early rising through Euro F3 and DTM, isn't fazed by handling his own affairs.

"I've done it before, so it's nothing new," the Whyte & Mackay whisky global ambassador continued. "but my No1 focus is making sure I stay in F1 for a third consecutive season.

"That's my primary aim, rather than chasing a drive at a particular team.

"At any given point, you need to weigh up your options, and the biggest thing for me is making sure I am in a Formula 1 car next year

"We are only halfway through the season, and I am trying to get the best results for Sahara Force India.

"There's still two race weekends to go and I believe after that is the time when you start to make sure you are putting yourself in the right places and making sure you know what you are doing.

"It is a crucial decision. I'll need to decide pretty quickly what way I want to go. It's in the background, and I'm dealing with it when I've got time."

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Jim McGill