Di Resta ninth at Spaposted in F101 | 09 | 2012

SCOTS F1 ACE Paul di Resta will start tomorrow's Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps from ninth on the grid in his Sahara Force India. McLaren's Jenson Button starts from pole position for the first time with McLaren.

Di Resta, who posted the 10th quickest time in Q3 with a 1min 48.890secs, was promoted to ninth after Mark Webber received a five-place grid penalty for having a gearbox change to his Red Bull.

“I’m quite pleased with our performance today," Di Resta, the 26-year-old from Bathgate, whose team-mate Nico Hulkenberg lines up 11th, said.

"The car had pace this morning during practice and was working well on this track where you need lots of downforce, as well as efficiency.

"My lap in Q2 felt very good and was about the maximum that was possible.

"In fact, I couldn’t repeat the time in Q3 and I went a tenth slower, so that was the speed we had in the car today.

"With the grid penalty for Mark (Webber) I will start from ninth, which puts us in a great position to come away with some points tomorrow.”

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Button meanwhile admitted winning at Spa-Francorchamps is crucial if he is to remain in the hunt for this year's title.

"A lot of people ask me if I am still driving for championship," he said. "It's a long shot. I am 80 points behind Fernando (Alonso), so I need to be on podium and finish ahead of him every race.

"It's not easy, but this is a good start. But a win is important tomorrow to fight for the championship."

"It's been quite a long time since I got my last pole position, back in 2009 in Monaco, so it is pretty emotional. It's so important to come back after such a long break and come back with such a good result.

"This is as close to winning a grand prix for me since it has been so long. We just got the balance right this morning. The car has been working really well all day and in the limited running we have had, every run the balance has been good.

"The balance is to my liking, and I have a style that is difficult to have a car that works for me in qualifying. But when it does I get pole."

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In complete contrast to Button's upbeat emotions, there was frustration and disappointment for team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

The McLaren driver — winner last time out in Hungary and third in the championship, two points adrift of Webber but 42 behind the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso — was left ruing a "disastrous" decision to switch to an older rear wing for qualifying.

"It was a disaster for me, but we are still in the top 10 so it is damage limitation for me. It was literally all down to the rear wing," Hamilton said.

"I was told the difference in wings was not so great, so it is definitely a surprise. I was told that in qualifying my wing would be quicker but for some reason it wasn't.

"It would be great to be up there fighting for a one-two tomorrow but with the wing I have that is not going to happen. The quick cars will be quick in the race tomorrow.

"Jenson's wing is working perfectly for him. It's great for him and I hope he gets maximum points tomorrow."

Belgian Grand Prix, Revised Grid Positions:

1. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes;

2. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari;

3. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault;

4. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari;

5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari;

6. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault;

7. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes;

8. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault;

9. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes;

10. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault;

11. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes;

12. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault;

13. Michael Schumacher Mercedes;

14. Felipe Massa Ferrari;

15. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari;

16. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari;

17. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault;

18. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault;

19. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault;

20. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth;

21. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth;

22. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth;

23. Nico Rosberg Mercedes;

24. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth.

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Jim McGill