Di Resta eyes strong startposted in F112 | 01 | 2013
BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA took to the stage at the Autosport International Show today and explained he feels his Sahara Force India team needs a stronger pre-season in 2013.
And the 26-year-old from Bathgate highlighted the team knows it has to build on its strong end to the 2012 season, and admitted he believes he can achieve podium finishes this season.
"The car is looking good," Di Resta said. "On paper you can see what the team has tried to achieve, and it is achieving what they want to do.
"We just need to ramp up the development. Last year we got stalled a bit towards the end of testing. We started very well, but people were bringing developments and we didn't do that.
"The team of people at Force India will ramp that up, and we need to start the season higher if we want to be competing with the likes of Lotus and Mercedes.
"Can we finish on the podium this season? I think we can. We nearly achieved it in Singapore, when I finished fourth and was only really denied third because of the appearance of the safety car, and that is the thing on the cards this year.
Back to work for Scots F1 ace Paul di Resta
"Vijay Mallya and the team are focused on achieving that. Our competitors, Williams and Sauber, they achieved that last year and we nearly did it, and the main thing we should focus on should be consistency.
"When we do get the chance to finish on the podium, we should understand why and repeat it the next week — that is the main thing.
"Having a fluke result would shine, but equally you would be down the next week if you did not come close to achieving it again.
"People keep asking me if I know who my team-mate is for this season. I don't know, and I don't think it's a great position to be in at nearly middle of January and not know who it is.
"But the team have said they will announce it when they are ready, so I have to respect that.
"who would I like as a team-mate? As long as he's fast, and has respect for me and is a team player, that is all I can ask for.
"It's when you get somebody who only has their own ambitions in mind... nowadays in F1 you need to work as a unit and you can see it gets a bit political, and that is how the sport is driven."
Di Resta to race Porsche with Celtic Speed
Watch the video of Paul's Autosport International Show interview
Paul is a global ambassador for Whyte & Mackay Whisky
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill