Paul di Resta shows desire to go head-to-head with Sebastian Vettel in similar equipment – Formula 1
Paul di Resta believes that he can match Sebastian Vettel if they are given similar equipment to race in.
Di Resta has impressed in his first season in Formula 1 as he helped his team Force India secure a best 6th place finish in the constructors’ championship since the team debuted back in 2008. He scored 27 points in the season and had a best finish
of sixth at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Brit said that he wants to earn a seat at the front of the grid so that he can race the German head to head. Di Resta has actually already had this opportunity when he was racing alongside Vettel for ASM Formule 3 back in 2006. He won the title leading
by 11 points and a victory more than his teammate.
“We were team-mates in Formula 3 in 2006 and we had the same equipment,” di Resta said. “Fortunately, I came out on top that year and we had a great battle that went right down to the wire. I'd like to be racing him at the front of Formula One. I have a
lot of respect for what he's done. You can't take away what he's achieved this year or diminish his success, but he's been in the best car.”
However, things have changed since, Vettel has become the leading driver in Formula 1 at the moment, and di Resta only joined Formula 1 in the season Vettel was securing his second back-to-back championship.
Di Resta said that he acknowledged the achievements Vettel has but conceded that it has a lot to do with the car as well. Some critics have raised this point as well that Vettel’s true class can only be scaled if he is in a similar car to his competitors.
Red Bull had the advantage of a visibly dominant RB7 for the 2011 season as Red Bull mastered the now banned off-throttle blown diffuser.
Di Resta will start his second season in Formula 1 alongside Nico Hulkenberg instead of Adrian Sutil. The Brit said that it does not matter who he is racing with.
“I don't care which driver I have as a team-mate as long as I am beating them. But you need someone pushing you along at the same time,” he added.
The 2012 season will start in March but the first pre-season tests will be held in February which will give a glimpse of where the teams stand against each other.
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