Di Resta aims to fight backposted in F105 | 07 | 2013
AFTER THE DISAPPOINTMENT of Silverstone, where he was forced to start from the back of the grid after a technical infringement, Bathgate's Paul di Resta is back in action at the Nurburgring this weekend.
Seven days after the British Grand Prix, where he stormed through from 21st to finish ninth, the 27-year-old is hoping his Sahara Force India team can finally string together three good days.
"We haven't had our problems to seek in the last three races at Monaco, Canada and Silverstone," Di Resta, whose fifth-place in qualifying last weekend was erased from the record books after his car was deemed to be 'underweight', said.
"In all three races, I've delivered a solid recovery drive, which merely confirms the pace we have in the car.
"This weekend though it would be fantastic to start near the front of the grid — where we should be — and see what we can deliver then.
"I still believe the car has the pace to be on the podium, and hopefully it might well come this weekend."
Di Resta, 10th-fastest in today's free practice, heads into the German Grand Prix eighth in the championship with 36 points, just 10 off the total he scored last year and still with 11 grands prix still to run.
And the Scot, backed by Whyte & Mackay whisky and who has been mentioned as a possible replacement for both Mark Webber at Red Bull, and Felipe Massa at Ferrari for 2014, admits he has to focus on delivering for Force India.
"There's nothing I can do about the decisions other teams will make: I can only do what I can do in the car," he continued.
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"I've built my reputation in Formula 1. I've said before that I want to be in a winning seat, but it's down to decisions by other people and teams' boards. I can't directly control those decisions.
"I've still got a lot of races with Force India this year. I'll keep concentrating on that and let other people do the work in the background.
"Where I am next year I don't know, but there are many points up for grabs. That is the important bit, keeping your reputation."
Silverstone winner Nico Rosberg, and team-mate Lewis Hamilton, are both keen to deliver a win for Mercedes on home soil in Germany.
And the Mercedes duo showed they will be the cars to beat by topping the timesheets in today's opening free practice at the Nurburgring.
Former world champ Hamilton, still to win a race for Mercedes, outpaced his team-mate by 0.219secs, lapping the track in a best of 1min 31.754secs.
Behind them, Mark Webber was third in his Red Bull, just ahead of the Sahara Force India of Adrian Sutil. His team-mate, Scot Paul di Resta, was 11th.
There was mixed fortune too for Ferrari. While Felipe Massa was sixth-quickest, team-mate Fernando Alonso failed to post a time after his car was hampered by electrical problems.
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After his non-finish in the British GP, world championship leader Sebastian Vettel has seen his lead over Alonso shrink to 21 points. And the German, still to win his home race, could only manage eight-fastest in the opening test.
"I think what is much more important than not having won in Germany is what we have achieved in the last three years," the 26-year-old said after going quickest in the afternoon session.
"We had good races at the Nurburgring in the past and also in Hockenheim.
"It was always close but not good enough to win yet. We have a little bit of time left to try again, and we're trying again.
"In terms of championship points it is the same as every other place, but it is something special to race in front of your home crowd.
"I feel happy to have that possibility. There are other nationalities that don't have a chance to race in front of home crowds. I think it is a privilege rather than extra pressure.
"It is nice to see the support we get and the fascination we have for F1. Motorsport has a big standing in Germany."
The weekend though threatens to be dominated by further concerns over the Pirelli tyres, just days after the punctures at Silverstone.
Drivers have warned they will boycott the race if there is any repeat of the Silverstone tyre problems over the weekend.
Following a meeting of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) in the Nurburgring paddock, the body issued a strongly worded statement making clear its unhappiness at the current situation in F1.
"The drivers of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association wish to express their deepest concerns about the events that took place at Silverstone," the statement said.
"We trust the changes made to the tyres will have the desired results and that similar problems will not occur during the German GP weekend.
"We are ready to drive our cars to the limit, as we always do, and as it is expected by our teams, sponsors and fans.
"However, the drivers have decided that, if similar problems should manifest themselves during the German GP, we shall immediately withdraw from the event, as this avoidable problem with the tyres endangers again the lives of drivers, marshals and fans."
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Jim McGill