Di Resta sixth in Abu Dhabiposted in F103 | 11 | 2013
BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA delivered another excellent race bringing his Sahara Force India home in sixth place in today's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The result helped extend the team's advantage over Sauber in the race to finish sixth in the important Constructors' Championship.
And for the 27-year-old Scot, backed by Whyte & Mackay Whisky, it was another back-to-back point-scoring result following hot on the heels of his eighth place in India last weekend.
"It's an awesome result for me and the team," Di Resta, who's performance again rubbished the misinformed views of those who have recently criticised his performances, said.
"I think defending our position against Sauber in the Constructors' Championship was our main aim, and we've done that: in fact we've extended the advantage to 32 points.
"I've always said, if the team give me the tools, I can deliver, and I think the last two races have proved exactly what I can do.
"We went into the race with a car which is far stronger in race conditions than it was in qualifying. And from the strategy guys to the engineers, everybody put in place what turned out to be a great race.
Related: Di Resta eyes points in the twilight zone
"I managed the tyres when I had to, and delivered what the team needed. More importantly, being able to stay in front of a Mercedes for the final five laps of the race, and being able to fight against Ferrari over the closing laps shows how good the car is.
"I started the race on the Pirelli soft compound tyres, which I'd used in qualifying. Again our car was excellent on the rubber and I was able to make them last through to lap 20 of the scheduled 55.
"The guys in the pitcrew did I a fantastic job to get me back out so quickly. I pitted from second position in the race, and rejoined in 13th.
"With five laps remaining, I was back up in fifth, with the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso's Ferrari — both quicker cars and on fresher tyres —catching me quickly.
"It was impossible to hold Fernando back because he was on much fresher soft tyres. Lewis was on the mediums, so I just focussed on getting clean exits from the hairpin and the chicane leading onto the long straights, and was able to stay ahead.
"In the end I was able to keep Lewis behind me rather comfortably, and brought the car home sixth, just as the fireworks around the Yas Marina were going off.
"Now we head to Austin in a fortnight determined to keep the momentum we've established going for the final two grands prix of the year."
The race was won by newly-crowned world champ Sebastian Vettel. The four-time champ, who won his seventh grand prix in succession, and 11th of the season, led home a Red Bull 1-2 ahead of his team-mate Mark Webber. Nico Rosberg was third for Mercedes.
Related: Points haul for Di Resta in India
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Jim McGill