“I think it’s a big thing,” he says, sitting in Force
India’s motor home in the Indian paddock.
“I understand the need to get out there and show people who you are. There is
another side to this sport. At the end of the day you build your own brand
and we all want to be associated with big teams. It’s just about being more
open but it takes time. You have to build trust. You can easily get bitten.”
Earlier this year, Di Resta had an ugly and much publicised falling out with
his manager, Anthony Hamilton, who coincidentally was back in the McLaren
motor homeon Friday, supporting his son. Their dispute is headed for the
High Court.
Has that experience made him more guarded? “It’s not an ideal situation,” he
admits, “but it happened and you learn your lessons as you do with
everything in life. It makes you grow as a person and makes you into the
person that you are.” And what kind of a person is that?
Those who know Di Resta well speak of an engaging character, cautious
certainly, but not the taciturn driver who can show up at press conferences.
And certainly not the diva who allegedly sent back his salad a few races ago
because the parmesan shavings were not to his liking. His management
dismissed the rumour as preposterous.
Jenson Button and David Coulthard, neighbours and training partners in Monaco,
both attest to a well rounded individual with a good sense of humour. In
fact, Button rates Di Resta so highly he and his manager, Richard Goddard,
signed him to their Sports Partnership stable.
It was speculated the possible conflict of interest may have counted against
Di Resta when McLaren were weighing up their decision. “I don’t believe
that,” Di Resta says. “I know Martin [Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal]
well. He was a key individual in getting me into Formula One.
“I’m happy with Richard’s involvement and the way it works, and I think
Martin was equally happy with Richard’s involvement.”
Either way, Di Resta will be a Force India driver next year.
And while the team have their financial issues – the plight of their two major
sponsors, Kingfisher and Sahara, has been much in the news this week – the
Scot says he has “assurances” the team’s budget will not be affected.
In fact, so confident is Di Resta that Force India can continue their current
upward trend he feels his team-mate, Nico Hulkenberg, would be “gambling” by
jumping ship to Sauber.
“We are scoring more points each year,” he says. “I don’t know what Nico’s
plans are but I see this team as equally as strong as Sauber, if not more so
with the stability we have. I’m happy where I am.”
Not forever, though. Di Resta is desperate to make that leap to one of the big
teams. Whether he gets the chance may depend on whether he can impress as
much out of the car as he has in it.
“You haven’t seen the real me yet,” he smiles. “The way I see it up until now
I have needed to focus on the driving side, to get myself to where I’m happy
to start exploring other things. I’m more comfortable now.”