Di Resta starts fifth in Bahrainposted in F120 | 04 | 2013

    BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA will start tomorrow's Bahrain Grand Prix from a career-best fifth on the grid in his Mercedes-powered Sahara Force India. Nico Rosberg bagged a surprise pole position in his Mercedes GP.

    Di Resta, eighth last weekend in China, finished the final qualifying session seveneth-quickest, but with penalties handed out to Lewis Hamilton (gearbox change) and Mark Webber (causing incident with Jean-Eric Vergne in China), the 27-year-old Scot was promoted.

    "It highlights the excellent pace we have in the car," a delighted Di Resta, who finished sixth in the corresponding race 12 months ago, said.

    Scot Paul di Resta fifth in Free Practice

    "The whole team has done a fantastic job so far this weekend, and it's crucial now we take full advantage of our position on the grid and deliver another good points-scoring performance.

    "We know our car's good on tyres, and the Pirellis are expected to have a high level of degradation here, so that should help us.

    "The first thing is to keep out of trouble on the opening lap, and if I can do that then there's no reason why I shouldn't repeat at least the same result as last year."

    Rosberg surprised the field. The Mercedes had looked off the pace all weekend, but the German took to the track early in Q3 and put down a 1min 32.4secs banker lap. In the end, it wasn't beaten.

    Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel starts second on the grid, 0.254s behind his fellow countryman, with the Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa starting third and fourth respectively.

    F1 Bahrain Grand Prix — Qualifying (Provisional):

    1. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m32.330s

    2. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m32.584s +0.254s;

    3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m32.667s +0.337s;

    4. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m32.762s +0.432s;

    5. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m33.078s +0.748s;

    6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m33.207s +0.877s;

    7. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m33.235s +0.905s;

    8. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m33.246s +0.916s;

    9. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m33.327s +0.997s;

    10. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes

    Q2 cut-off time: 1m33.702s

    11. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m33.762s +1.016s;

    12. Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes 1m33.914s +1.168s;

    13. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m33.974s +1.228s;

    14. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari 1m33.976s +1.230s;

    15. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault 1m34.105s +1.359s;

    16. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m34.284s + 1538s;

    Q1 cut-off time: 1m34.425s

    17. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m34.425s +1.547s;

    18. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1m34.730s +1.852s;

    19. Charles Pic Caterham-Renault 1m35.283s +2.405s;

    20. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth 1m36.178s +3.300s;

    21. Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault 1m36.304s ;+3.426s

    22. Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth 1m36.476s +3.598s.

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    Jim McGill

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