With impressive results from pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya, Sahara Force India's Paul di Resta said that he and team-mate Nico Hulkenberg would be going in “best prepared” for the first race of the F1 season at Melbourne on March 18.
“The target is to be among the points and finish where we left off last year. My focus is to just try and do the best possible job for Sahara Force India,'' said the 25-year-old Scot at an interaction with the media here on Friday.
Hulkenberg said that he was pleased to get a drive in 2012 after missing the 2011 season.
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“I was disappointed, of course, to have lost my race seat towards the end of 2010. I was not happy with it (not getting an F1 seat in 2011). I had quite a few point-scoring results in 2010. It's not nice to be standing on the sidelines and seeing the others race,” said the 24-year-old German.
“But the wait has paid off though and I am back. I am over the disappointment of not racing in 2011, and am looking forward to 2012. Motivation has never been an issue, it's always there, 100 per cent.”
Summing up his performance last season, di Resta said: “Obviously, it was full of ups and downs. If I look back, I would say it was very positive for a first year F1 season. I am very realistic, I was (racing) against the best guys in the world; I was inexperienced and going to new circuits. This year I am a lot more confident, comfortable and focused, and that's what is going to drive me to another level.
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“In Sahara Force India we have targets and ambitions and the focus is to improve as a team. As a team we punched way above our weight at the end of last year. Each year this team has moved up another notch and to maintain it would be an incredible challenge.
“I think everybody has the passion and determination at the moment given where we finished last year. I think the coming of the new investor in Sahara would lift this team to another level.”
Responding to F1 team Marussia's decision to name Maria de Villota (daughter of former Spanish F1 driver Emilio de Villota) as the test driver for the season, di Resta said: “It's difficult, but, I suppose, if women have the talent, why not?
It's quite a challenge because of the physical strength required for F1 is difficult even for a man. I definitely welcome it. If women have the talent and results, why shouldn't they race against us? I am sure some day, somebody will achieve it.”