“Everything’s all set up ready. It’s an unfortunate thing. It’s something you
don’t want to do but it’s the only way to resolve it. We’ll see.
“I can’t really say any more than that as it’s an ongoing legal issue.”
Hamilton, father of 2008 world champion Lewis
Hamilton, is suing Di Resta for wrongful termination of contract and
loss of earnings after being sacked by the Scot during the early stages of
the 2012 season.
In defence papers laid last July Di Resta claimed that he had been misled
over a multimillion-pound deal with the energy drink company Go Fast, which
never came to fruition.
Hamilton was in New Delhi last weekend where he spoke to Di Resta’s new
manager, Richard Goddard. It is still possible that the case might be
settled before it gets to court around Nov 27.
The situation is made more delicate by the fact that F1 figures such as McLaren
team principal Martin Whitmarsh and Force India deputy team principal Bob
Fernley are understood to have submitted statements and may be dragged in to
proceedings.
Di Resta said that he was putting all thoughts of the case to one side as he
focused on retaining his race seat, with the move to new power units in 2014
a particular concern for him.
Not only are the heavier engines and associated energy recovery systems likely
to handicap bigger drivers – Di Resta is one of the biggest – they are far
more expensive, meaning struggling midfield teams might prefer to look at
drivers with financial backing.
“It’s mighty tough out there at the moment,” Di Resta said.
“Who wouldn’t be worried? You’re only as good as your last result and as you
say there are guys out there who have got some backing behind them.
“I don’t think anybody is secure in the midfield. But the team are giving
me some relatively positive messages and I have to be content with that.
“They [Force India] are having a board meeting, as they normally do at
this time of year, to look at the budgets for next season. I think they’re
pretty happy with me. They can see that when they have given me the tools I
have delivered.
“Next year is a challenge for any driver at the moment, quite apart from
getting anyone new in the team. Consistency and continuity is probably worth
a lot.”
Of his run of DNFs, which included crashes in Italy, Singapore and Korea, di
Resta added: “Let’s be honest, the timing wasn’t ideal. But I’d like to
think I’m back. The Suzuka weekend was as strong as I’ve been all year. I
think I have proved already that I am not one for throwing cars off the
track.
“In my first year in the sport I completed more laps than anybody. My consistency
was what won me praise. People have very short memories in this sport.”