Di Resta eyeing F1 podiumposted in F107 | 06 | 2013
BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA topped the timesheets in the opening free practice for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, then admitted he's eyeing a podium on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Scot, who again produced a stunning lap round the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, already has two fourth-place finishes his 17 top 10 places he's scored in his 45 grands prix.
Now he's targeting his first podium finish in his Mercedes-powered Sahara Force India racer.
"Given the weekend we enjoyed in Bahrain when we were a comfortable fourth, and just missed out on third in the dying laps, if we can unleash the car's potential we can get on the podium here," Di Resta said today.
"In Bahrain, if we'd just been a little bit quicker we would have achieved it.
"Here suits our car a bit better, but that doesn't mean we're going to get straight on the podium.It's hard work.
"Reading the conditions is key; we have to make sure we don't make any mistakes in qualifying and put ourselves in the best position for Sunday."
Di Resta's reference to 'mistakes' was directed specifically at the botched call his crew made during qualifying in Monaco where he was hung out to dry on the wrong tyres.
As a result he was forced to start from 17th, despite having been in the top three during free practice, but stormed through to finish ninth.
"This could be a big opportunity for us," he continued. "As I've said, the speed is showing well. As long as we can maintain that then we'll have high hopes."
Di Resta, the Whyte & Mackay-backed racer, admitted his top time in FP1 was down to good timing with the selection of tyres.
“We were quite cautious with the wet weather this morning and we only fitted the dry tyres for the last few minutes of the session," he said.
"Before that I had a good run on the intermediates and felt happy with the performance, probably the most comfortable I've felt on the intermediates this year.
"The afternoon was a case of getting through the dry tyre programme and trying to find the right car balance.
"Unfortunately things were cut short with the electrical issue, so I didn't do the long runs we had planned for the final part of the session."
The electrical issue with his car cost di Resta the last half hour of the session and left him in 13th place in the FP2 timings after he missed out on a final run on the supersoft tyres.
Skoda reveals third-generation vRS Octavia
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill