Di Resta to return to F1?
Discussion
Not seen this anywhere else (though I am on a ship with limited interweb access) but in this interview he is talking about
"closing in on a test and reserve driver role at Mercedes GP. The role, expected to be confirmed within four weeks, will further consolidate the Scot's long relationship with Mercedes-Benz. It is 10 years since he joined the Mercedes Young Driver Development Programme, and this year he returned to lead the car giant's all-out assault on the German Touring Car (DTM) Championship.
Mercedes haven't won the title since Di Resta sealed it in Shanghai in 2010. But as soon as Force India ditched him for 2014 - despite his best point-scoring year in F1 - Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff was on the phone to the Scot."
"closing in on a test and reserve driver role at Mercedes GP. The role, expected to be confirmed within four weeks, will further consolidate the Scot's long relationship with Mercedes-Benz. It is 10 years since he joined the Mercedes Young Driver Development Programme, and this year he returned to lead the car giant's all-out assault on the German Touring Car (DTM) Championship.
Mercedes haven't won the title since Di Resta sealed it in Shanghai in 2010. But as soon as Force India ditched him for 2014 - despite his best point-scoring year in F1 - Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff was on the phone to the Scot."
NEEP said:
Not seen this anywhere else (though I am on a ship with limited interweb access) but in this interview he is talking about
"closing in on a test and reserve driver role at Mercedes GP. The role, expected to be confirmed within four weeks, will further consolidate the Scot's long relationship with Mercedes-Benz. It is 10 years since he joined the Mercedes Young Driver Development Programme, and this year he returned to lead the car giant's all-out assault on the German Touring Car (DTM) Championship.
Mercedes haven't won the title since Di Resta sealed it in Shanghai in 2010. But as soon as Force India ditched him for 2014 - despite his best point-scoring year in F1 - Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff was on the phone to the Scot."
It was always part of his DTM deal for this year that he replaced Sam Bird in that role"closing in on a test and reserve driver role at Mercedes GP. The role, expected to be confirmed within four weeks, will further consolidate the Scot's long relationship with Mercedes-Benz. It is 10 years since he joined the Mercedes Young Driver Development Programme, and this year he returned to lead the car giant's all-out assault on the German Touring Car (DTM) Championship.
Mercedes haven't won the title since Di Resta sealed it in Shanghai in 2010. But as soon as Force India ditched him for 2014 - despite his best point-scoring year in F1 - Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff was on the phone to the Scot."
With talent like Magnussen and Kviat on the grid, I don't see any reason to get excited about a Di Resta return. He's had several chances, he wasn't good enough to secure a drive for 2014, he's off to race tin tops. Personally I won't miss him.
In my opinion, most folk just want him back because of plain old nationalism. The union flag is not enough to persuade me that he's worth it.
In my opinion, most folk just want him back because of plain old nationalism. The union flag is not enough to persuade me that he's worth it.
BritishRacinGrin said:
With talent like Magnussen and Kviat on the grid, I don't see any reason to get excited about a Di Resta return. He's had several chances, he wasn't good enough to secure a drive for 2014, he's off to race tin tops. Personally I won't miss him.
In my opinion, most folk just want him back because of plain old nationalism. The union flag is not enough to persuade me that he's worth it.
I have to agree. I'm about as patriotic as it gets, but for me he didn't do enough to justify keeping a seat. There was talk of him taking Dario's seat, but that doesn't seem to have materialised either.In my opinion, most folk just want him back because of plain old nationalism. The union flag is not enough to persuade me that he's worth it.
I couldn't condemn him as 'average' after all he's achieved a lot in Motorsport and was a decent enough driver in F1, but I fear his problem is he's not as good as the current crop of new drivers (who all seemed to shine in some way or other at the weekend), he's not very marketable suffering from being 'not Button or Hamilton' in terms of a British Drivers, or exiting enough to be marketable elsewhere - nor is he wealthy enough to buy a seat away from one of the backmarkers.
I certainly wouldn't give him a seat over and above say Heikki who also suffers from not being WCC material or Rich / Sellable.
I certainly wouldn't give him a seat over and above say Heikki who also suffers from not being WCC material or Rich / Sellable.
Di Resta is a solid, consistent professional racing driver of a type which in previous eras could enjoy a long career with midfield teams or a number two role at a top team (eg Heidfeld, Trulli, Irvine, Salo, Brundle, Patrese etc etc).
The difference these days is that there is always some teenage prodigy who is ‘the next big thing’ or a rich kid who can buy a seat, so the solid midfield pros get squeezed out.
The difference these days is that there is always some teenage prodigy who is ‘the next big thing’ or a rich kid who can buy a seat, so the solid midfield pros get squeezed out.
PW said:
DTM champion, which is something that has eluded a LOT of otherwise highly regarded drivers.
Good point.The likes of Hakkinen, Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher etc all failed to win the DTM title. That was at the end of their careers, however, when they were past their best and may have been using DTM to top up their pension pots.
From a purely pragmatic view point an ex-F1 driver would be preferable as a reserve and/or test driver to someone with no F1 exposure.
If Nico or Lewis are out for a couple of races in a year you would expect Mercedes to be fighting for WCC and WCC would you throw in a complete rookie to deputise? Some do well – Magnusson for example but that is rare and you’d be a brave/foolish team manager to gamble when you have a driver with F1 race experience at your disposal.
Whether Di Resta is a steady pair of hands to pick up the points during those races, given his performances towards the end of last season, is a whole different matter.
If Nico or Lewis are out for a couple of races in a year you would expect Mercedes to be fighting for WCC and WCC would you throw in a complete rookie to deputise? Some do well – Magnusson for example but that is rare and you’d be a brave/foolish team manager to gamble when you have a driver with F1 race experience at your disposal.
Whether Di Resta is a steady pair of hands to pick up the points during those races, given his performances towards the end of last season, is a whole different matter.
Bradgate said:
The difference these days is that there is always some teenage prodigy who is ‘the next big thing’ or a rich kid who can buy a seat, so the solid midfield pros get squeezed out.
Magnussen and Kvyat did ok yesterday.. and better PR for the teams. Glad they took the risk.Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff