Di Resta seventh in Spainposted in F112 | 05 | 2013

    BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA maintained his strong start to the 2013 Formula One season with a seventh place finish in the Spanish Grand Prix.

    But the 27-year-old Scot, who started 10th on the grid in his Mercedes-powered Sahara Force India, admitted afterwards that even he was confused by the number of pitstops.

    "It was a pretty manic race in many ways," Di Resta (pictured in action today) smiled afterwards. "It was definitely very busy in the cockpit.

    "Before the start of the race we'd planned a three-stop strategy, but in the end we did a four-stopper.

    "After the third stop, I had to come on the radio and ask the guys, 'just exactly what is our strategy here?'

    "They confirmed we were doing a four-stopper, and it was a case of me getting my head down and doing the lap times.

    "I said before the start of the race that seventh would be a fantastic result for us, so we'll happily take it.

    "It continues the fine form we've established this season, and is more crucial world championship points in the bank for Sahara Force India.

    "Next up is my 'home' race round the streets of Monaco. It's always a brilliant, but demanding week, and I can't wait.

    Hopefully we can make an even better job, and continue our run of scoring points."

    Local hero Fernando Alonso sent the thousands of Spanish fans home ecstatic after he powered his Ferrari to victory.

    The double world champ closed the gap on championship leader Sebastian Vettel to 17 points after the Red Bull driver could only finish fourth.

    Alonso dominated the race after an audacious double-overtaking manoeuvre — when he swept round the outside of Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton at Turn 3 — on the opening lap.

    "This year we have a package that is still not the fastest, but we are working on it," Alonso, who backed off towards the end to eventually finish 9.338secs ahead of Raikkonen's Lotus, said.

    "Definitely on Sundays it is a competitive team package. We are not the quickest over one lap, we maybe do not set the fastest time in the race, but we have fantastic pitstops, starts, tyre degradation … many ingredients to have a competitive car to fight for the championship."

    Raikkonen meanwhile, now just four points adrift of Vettel, admitted he wasn't happy with his second place.

    "It wasn't the win, and we are only happy with the win," he said, "but in terms of the championship, with Vettel we are close and Fernando has caught me, but we are still in the hunt and hopefully we can try and win a bit more."

    Brazilian Felipe Massa made it two Ferraris on the podium when he finished third.

    But there was misery for the Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. After starting from the front two spots on the grid, they eventually struggled to finish sixth and 12th respectively as their cars struggled with the Pirelli tyres.

    F1 Spanish Grand Prix — Result:

    1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1h39m16.596s;

    2. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault + 9.338s;

    3. Felipe Massa Ferrari + 26.049s;

    4. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 38.273s;

    5. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault + 47.963s;

    6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes + 1m08.020s;

    7. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 1m08.988s;

    8. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes + 1m19.506s;

    9. Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes + 1m21.738s;

    10. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1 lap;

    11. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari + 1 lap;

    12. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes + 1 lap;

    13. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 1 lap;

    14. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault + 1 lap;

    15. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari + 1 lap;

    16. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault + 1 lap;

    17. Charles Pic Caterham-Renault + 1 lap;

    18. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth + 2 laps;

    19. Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth + 2 laps.

    Retirements:

    Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 52 laps

    Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault 21 laps

    Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 8 laps

    World Championship standings (After 5 of 19 grands prix):

    Drivers:

    1. Vettel 89

    2. Raikkonen 85

    3. Alonso 72

    4. Hamilton 50

    5. Massa 45

    6. Webber 42

    7. Di Resta 26

    8. Grosjean 26

    9. Rosberg 22

    10. Button 17

    11. Perez 12

    12. Ricciardo 7

    13. Sutil 6

    14. Hulkenberg 5

    15. Vergne 1

    Constructors:

    1. Red Bull-Renault 131

    2. Ferrari 117

    3. Lotus-Renault 111

    4. Mercedes 72

    5. Force India-Mercedes 32

    6. McLaren-Mercedes 29

    7. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 8

    8. Sauber-Ferrari 5

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    Jim McGill

     

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