Di Resta keen to steer Force India team into sixth spot

Bathgate’s Paul di Resta, fresh from securing more Formula One World Championship points on his last outing in Abu Dhabi, returns to action this weekend at Interlagos for the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

And the 25-year-old Scot is determined to ensure his Sahara Force India team clinches sixth position on the Formula One Constructors’ Championship.

“Top of our agenda this weekend is doing everything we can to ensure Sahara Force India finishes sixth in the contractors’ championship,” Di Resta stated yesterday.

“We go into the race holding sixth position, 15 points ahead of Sauber and 16 in front of Toro Rosso. On paper it looks like a healthy gap, but we’re certainly not taking anything for granted.

“Last year the team missed out on sixth by just one point, and we all remember how disappointed we were. It’s an experience we definitely don’t want to repeat, so everybody is fired up.

“The constructors’ championship is the No. 1 aim at the start of the season for every team in F1: in football terms, it’s like the Premiership.”

Di Resta will be driving on the undulating circuit near Sao Paulo for the first time this weekend. Despite being at the track last year in his role as test and reserve driver, he didn’t drive.

The Scot though has walked the circuit and spent time on he team’s simulator, so heads into the weekend with a background knowledge of the track.