Di Ressa out to impress in Melbourne

Paul di Resta will take another step towards his Formula One dream over the course of the next two weeks.

True to their promise when Di Resta signed a deal to become reserve and test driver for Force India, the Scot is to be given track time during Friday's practice in Australia and Malaysia a week later.

In sampling the behind-the-scenes atmosphere in Bahrain over a week ago, even if he did not get behind the wheel of a car, it further inspired the 23-year-old to push harder and prove he is worthy of a shot in F1.

"It gave me a taste for it. It wasn't as if I was there as a guest or anything," said Di Resta.

"I was there as part of the team, taking part in the team briefings and meetings that went on, and it has just made me more hungry.

"I want to be more involved. I saw the cars going down the pitlane and on the track, and that's where I want to be and what I want to achieve in my time here."

Such an opportunity is due to come D i Resta's way when he takes to the Albert Park and Sepang circuits in Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur.

It is extremely rare in F1 these days for a reserve to be given an opportunity during a grand prix weekend as a team prefers its main drivers to be in the car as much as possible ahead of a race.

"This is the main focus of the seat I have. Force India are very serious about developing me as a driver," added Di Resta.

"You don't get much track time in Formula One any more as a test or reserve driver, so it's going to bring me up to speed.

"I'll have a better understanding of how a grand prix weekend works and it will give me an understanding of learning tracks and feeling more comfortable and gaining some valuable running for the future."

Patience will have to continue to be a virtue, though, as Di Resta knows neither Adrian Sutil nor Vitantonio Liuzzi are likely to be ousted any time soon unless either perform badly in coming races.

"The further you go up the ladder the closer you are to being part of the team. I'm as close as I'm going to be to actually getting a role," reviewed Di Resta of his position.

"I'm here to try and impress these guys. At the end of the day I've got to deliver on my performances for them to take a chance and put me in the car.

"I believe I can make the step given the chance. At the moment I'm learning all I can so when I do get the chance I'm best prepared as possible."

Di Resta will continue to compete for Mercedes in DTM this season as fortuitously the two calendars do not clash.

This will be his fourth season in the Championship since winning the Formula Three Euroseries title in 2006, beating then team-mate Sebastian Vettel to the crown.

Their two careers veered in different directions from that year as Vettel finished runner-up in F1 last season, and again appears to be a serious title contender this year.

Di Resta insists he is "not jealous," but is now itching for the chance to again race against the 22-year-old he still regards as his friend.

"We both had different ways of doing things, it's just he got there a bit faster," added Di Resta.

"We will now see what the future holds, but of course I want to beat him, and I believe I've achieved enough to be there.

"We were team-mates, he is a great guy, and he's done very well in Formula One, but equally I beat him in the Formula Three Euroseries.

"It will be nice to be up racing against him at the front one day, and hopefully for future Championships."


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