Start hampers Di Restaposted in F129 | 07 | 2012
BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA heads into Formula One's four-week summer shutdown hoping he will have a change in fortune when the action restarts in Belgium (see more photos of Paul di Resta in action in the Hungary Grand Prix).
The 26-year-old Scot left Hungary today having failed to score world championship points for the third race in a row.
And Di Resta, who admitted his race was compromised within the first few yards of the start after the launch procedure failed to work efficiently, knows there's work to be done.
"In the past we've been able to make very fast starts," the Sahara Force India racer said, "and I've been able to capitalise on that and make up some positions: but for some reason that's not happening at the moment.
"We need to look at the problem of the start procedure, understand it, and improve it: because at the moment, it's hurting our track position."
But that wasn't the only problem Di Resta, the global ambassador for Whyte & Mackay Whisky, suffered. Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado clattered the right-hand side-pod of the Scot's car with the front-left Pirelli of his Williams as he barged past at Turn 12.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton wins in Hungary
"You just can't do that in F1," Di Resta said. "You just can't run another car off the road in order to get past.
"But we all know Maldonado has had more than a few incidents this year, and correctly the stewards again penalised him and handed him a drive-through penalty."
Now Di Resta, who started the Hungary Grand Prix from 12th, and finished 12th, heads into the summer break ready to recharge his batteries and prepare for a storming end to the season.
"Last year the second half of our season was our strongest, and I have to hope we're able to repeat that in 2012," he said.
"I know the guys at the team's HQ at Silverstone feel exactly the same way I do.
"We need to improve if we're to get back to scoring world championship points, and I have no doubt we'll turn the season round when we restart in September."
Scot Lewis Williamson fifth in GP3 at Hungaroring
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Jim McGill