After months of speculation, Paul di Resta believes Force India’s 2012 driver line-up will finally be published this week. The Scot, who was the highest-placed rookie this year, is up against 2011 team-mate Adrian Sutil and reserve driver Nico Hülkenberg.
Hülkenberg switched to Force India after being ousted by Williams, accepting a third driver role with a practical guarantee of a race seat for 2012; with this in mind, most have expected Sutil to make a switch to Williams. However, conjecture has now risen over the chances of Force India retaining its current race driver combination for next season, which would leave the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix pole-sitter on the sidelines once again.
“I can’t say anything,” di Resta told the official F1 website of the ongoing situation. “The only thing that I can say is that I am still working closely with the team and helping with the new car. I will do some simulator work over (this) week and hopefully by then Dr. Mallya (Team Principal) and his board will have made up their minds about their 2012 driver line-up.
“Certainly I would be very proud to stay with them for another year. They have shown a lot of respect for me and a lot of faith in me. They’ve given me the opportunity of a lifetime and I am very thankful for that.”
When asked of his ‘Plan B’, should he be dropped by Force India, the 2010 DTM Champion replied:
“I don’t think that this is something that you want to think about but, sure, you have to think about a worst-case scenario - and thank goodness I have Anthony (Hamilton, father of Lewis and driver manager) doing that for me. That’s what he is employed to do.”
Team head Vijay Mallya originally explained that his 2012 driver line-up would be revealed in December, before stating that he would bring the decision forward after receiving requests from his drivers, Sutil in particular.
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Vijay Mallya
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| Adrian Sutil | |||
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| Vijay Mallya | |||
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