Force India driver Paul di Resta anxious to settle things with Vettel, Hamilton – Formula 1
Paul di Resta will be making his debut this season in Force India colours, but it seems that he has already started the rivalry with his old compatriots Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.
24-year-old di Resta was confirmed as driver in Glasgow at the sponsors headquarters Whyte and Mackay on Wednesday by Force India after Vitantonio Liuzzi was left out. In the 2010 season, he was the reserve driver for Force India.
Di Resta, the current DTM champion, has a history with Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. He took the F3 title by beating the current champion Vettel and following Hamilton through Formula Renault.
Paul started his driving career in Karting and raced there from 1994 to 2001. He raced in British Formula Renault and Eurocup Formula Renault and had an impressive record. Paul participated in Formula Three Euroseries and won McLaren Autosport BRDC Young
Driver of The Year Award in 2005 which his Cousin Dario Franchitti won in 1992. His cousin is a triple IndyCar champion and two-time Indy 500 winner. He has also played with Lewis Hamilton and current champion Sebastian Vettel in his junior career.
Paul also defeated his teammate and current champion Sebastian Vettel to win the title of Formula 3 Euroseries. He also won 2006 BP Ultimate Masters. His early career is not confined to Formula 1 only but he also raced in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM)
and finished 2nd in the rankings. He currently holds the DTM title.
Di Resta, Hamilton and Vettel were compatriots for a long time and had some great battles in the past. But soon after the 2006 F3 Euroseries championship, their careers parted ways. Hamilton and Vettel made their way in Formula 1 and di Resta was left alone.
Di Resta said that both of them were lucky to make their way in very easily mainly because, “They had different backing and that got them there a bit quicker.”
Di Resta will be starting the season with his nose ahead because he will carry a psychological advantage of beating both champions. “I don't want to sound big-headed, but I wasn't racing them when they won their championships,” he said.
His teammate in Force India will be a 28-year-old German Adrian Sutil who finished 11th in last season and securing 47 points. Talking about his teammate, he said “I would hope to be on the same pace as him or quicker than him from the start.”
No doubt, his first target will be his teammate Adrian Sutil but he will desperately try to steal the show against his old rivals.
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