Di Resta prepares for 2012 with Force India

Paul di Resta has not yet been confirmed for the 2012 season, but there is a good chance that he will continue as a main driver with the Sahara Force India team.

I can’t say anything (about his future). The only thing I can say is that I am working closely with the team and am helping them with the new car. I will be doing some work in the simulator next week and hopefully by then Dr Mallya and the board will have made a decision regarding the driver duo for 2012, Paul di Resta said in an interview with the official Formula 1 website.

The Scottish driver admitted that he would view very favorably the opportunity to continue for another year with the team because it was this team that allowed him to make his debut in F1.

I would obviously be very proud to stay with them for another year. They have shown a lot of respect and trust towards me. They gave me the opportunity of a lifetime, and I am very grateful to them.

Di Resta also admitted that he hadn’t really thought of a plan B if Force India decided not to keep him, but he believes that his manager, Anthony Hamilton, has one just in case.

I don’t think it’s something you want to think about (a plan B), but you must of course consider the worst-case scenario – and thank God I have Anthony who does that for me. That’s why he’s by my side.

The 2010 DTM champion also reflected on his first season in F1 – in fact, he finished as the best rookie. He expressed delight with his year and his performances.

This has been a good year for me – and for the team as well. It has been an experience filled with joy, but it also required a lot of work. I truly have very good memories. Of course, these memories could have been a bit better, but overall 2011 has been a positive year, and I think this experience can allow us to go even further in the future, and it may herald more good years to come.

Di Resta explained that he did not set specific goals for this first season, he mainly wanted to enjoy the present moment and the fact of being an F1 driver.

« I never set goals for myself because I wanted to keep an open mind for my first season. Of course, there were difficult moments, but you tell yourself that you will learn from these mistakes and use them to your advantage. The most important thing was to drive the car and enjoy the experience. I worked very hard with my family and key people who made it possible, and I am very happy with the decisions they made and the trust they placed in me.

Paul di Resta therefore hopes to be retained by the Force India team in 2012 and to do better than in 2011, that is, to achieve 5th place in the constructors’ championship, with the team having fallen short by only 5 points to Lotus Renault this season.

Our performance was very good at the end of the year. Unfortunately, we started a bit slower than the others, but that’s life! We delivered a great fight. […] My philosophy is not to think too much about the past – we achieved our initial goal with this sixth place in the constructors’ standings. What we need to do now is focus more on the future and hope that this journey leads us to 5th place, added the young Scotsman.