So what now for DiResta ? - Page 6

m355y · 30 Oct 2012, 07:45 (Ref:3159986)

Yeah he's reportedly far from one of the most popular drivers on the grid, even within Force India itself.

He's solid but nothing special. He'll surely have a third season at FI next season but fail to stamp any kind of authority on Sutil/Alguersuari/whoever he's partnered with and he'll be gone. Interesting that Sutil ended 2011 with quite a big upper hand on Paul despite having started it on the back foot.

p-matt · 30 Oct 2012, 08:37 (Ref:3160007)

Quote:

Originally Posted by QnickFTW

I think thats spot-on actually. I literally have never heard an outraced or an outqualified Paul just putting his hand up and say, yea I didnt quite manage that lap/race the way I wanted. There is always something about the car. I mean every driver carries a big book of excuses with them, but Paul is just notorious for it, and that coupled with his usually kinda grumpy mood.... it doesnt have "marketable guy" written all over it (and it can possibly put him in an awkward place with the team too)

I've been saying this about di Resta for ages. He definitely has a place in F1, but I don't see what top team he could slot into into now.

In saying that, I do feel sorry for him as he has been royally screwed over by Mercedes now with Lewis joining the factory team. I'm sure he's a bit bitter about that, and Perez (and possibly Hulkenberg) jumping head of him into bigger teams.

Flavio Galtieri · 30 Oct 2012, 11:19 (Ref:3160068)

Quote:

Originally Posted by p-matt

I've been saying this about di Resta for ages. He definitely has a place in F1, but I don't see what top team he could slot into into now.

In saying that, I do feel sorry for him as he has been royally screwed over by Mercedes now with Lewis joining the factory team. I'm sure he's a bit bitter about that, and Perez (and possibly Hulkenberg) jumping head of him into bigger teams.

I think people are being very harsh personally. Ok he might not have the charming likeable persona of Nico, but since when did that matter? The two of them have been incredibly close in performance this season, far closer than any other F1 pairing, but DiResta has been on the receiving end of a little bad luck, or poor strategy calls if you prefer to blame the team.

I can't see how another season at FI will hurt? He's being paid, has a solid car and we all know how quickly things change in Formula One. So I'm sure it's far from over for him just yet. It's not that long ago people were writing off Button as a lost cause....

Nico moving to Sauber sounds really strange to me. Not at all sure that will happen. If it's a strategic move to close a Ferrari seat down the line fair enough, if it's a higher paycheque then again it's fine, but otherwise it makes little sense to me. We'll know soon enough I guess.

Mr V · 30 Oct 2012, 15:34 (Ref:3160177)

Quote:

Originally Posted by p-matt

In saying that, I do feel sorry for him as he has been royally screwed over by Mercedes now with Lewis joining the factory team. I'm sure he's a bit bitter about that, and Perez (and possibly Hulkenberg) jumping head of him into bigger teams.

I'm not sure that you can say he's been screwed over by Mercades. What would you expect Merc to do? They have the oppertunity to sign one of the 3 "top drivers", or Di Resta who is currently being beaten by his team mate? As for Perez, while not always being in the points he has done some special drives, i can full see why McLaren went for him.

chillibowl · 1 Nov 2012, 15:07 (Ref:3161100)

is Anthony Hamilton still his manager?

granted a Merc seat was never his and without knowing the internal politics i think i would feel more than a little screwed over if my manager's son got the seat i was hoping for.

**bella** · 1 Nov 2012, 15:21 (Ref:3161104)

this made me think a bit less of him. granted, it's probably expected of him to say such things, particularly when there's not a huge number of options around...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103904

Quote:

"I was surprised that Nico left this team, to be fair, for an immediate competitor," said di Resta in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

"I don't see it as being a step up, to be perfectly honest. I see it as an equal kind of status.

"Long term where you see this team is going, I think it is probably better [at Force India]."

"There is progression, and the way this team is structured and going forward, I am content where I am."

Flavio Galtieri · 1 Nov 2012, 15:23 (Ref:3161105)

No he fired Hamilton as his manager during the summer under er....somewhat contentious circumstances. The matter is apparently due in Court.

He's now got the same management team as Jenson.

**touringlegend** · 1 Nov 2012, 15:29 (Ref:3161109)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillibowl

is Anthony Hamilton still his manager?

Di Resta's now managed by same people as Button is.

Flavio Galtieri · 1 Nov 2012, 15:35 (Ref:3161111)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

this made me think a bit less of him. granted, it's probably expected of him to say such things, particularly when there's not a huge number of options around...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103904

HA Ha what's funny about that article is that Ed Straw of Autosprout actually hasn't got any better idea of why Nico is moving than we all have!

It's a strange move, certainly can't be performance related or because Sauber have a "better factory" but I guess all will be come clear later.

My best guess is it's a Ferrari deal in the offing, that's the only thing that makes sense.

chillibowl · 1 Nov 2012, 15:44 (Ref:3161116)

Thanks Flavio and touringlegend

just reading about it now. AH is suing Di Resta for wrongful termination over a sponsorship deal that never came to be...nothing at all to suggest it had anything to do with LH getting the merc seat.

now that my work is done here, i guess i'll just go somewhere else to hint at wild conspiracy theories...shouldn't be too hard on an F1 forum!

Mr V · 1 Nov 2012, 16:34 (Ref:3161124)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

He's now got the same management team as Jenson.

Isn't Jenson effectively Paul's manager? Although he wouldn't have direct involvement, doesn't Jenson own one half of the company ?

Flavio Galtieri · 1 Nov 2012, 17:49 (Ref:3161143)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr V

Isn't Jenson effectively Paul's manager? Although he wouldn't have direct involvement, doesn't Jenson own one half of the company ?

Yes he's an owner/partner.

Mr V · 28 Nov 2012, 20:17 (Ref:3172716)

Given that Nico was "oh so close" to a (possible) win in Brazil while Paul was languishing in the lower points scoring places (at best??), the fact that Sergio is now at Mac, Lewis at Merc (the 2 obvious seats that Paul may have got) then there's the Nico to Ferrari via Sauber rumour, i honestly don't see a bright future for the Scotsman.

**BertMk2** · 28 Nov 2012, 21:04 (Ref:3172742)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr V

Given that Nico was "oh so close" to a (possible) win in Brazil while Paul was languishing in the lower points scoring places (at best??), the fact that Sergio is now at Mac, Lewis at Merc (the 2 obvious seats that Paul may have got) then there's the Nico to Ferrari via Sauber rumour, i honestly don't see a bright future for the Scotsman.

Hulkenburg had the edge in the second half of the season but I think the Brazil result is a bit skewed as I'm sure I read somewhere that they were running split strategies to cover the various weather scenarios - Hulkenburg got the one that turned out to be right. But Di Resta has certainly **** out as far as the plum drives go - I think the 'Lewis to Merc' thing caught him (and others) on the hop - if Michael had stayed on for another year I think Hulkenburg would have sat tight at FI and it would have been between him and Di Resta for the Merc seat in 2014. All speculation now though and Di Resta has to have a good season next year otherwise it's probably game over.

safc_fan89 · 28 Nov 2012, 22:25 (Ref:3172787)

I haven't been that impressed with Di Resta, for me Hulkenberg has shown himself to be the better driver. He made a few errors in the race on Sunday admittedly, but it was still a great performance. I'm not sure Di Resta would get the praise he seems to get from our media if he wasn't British. His results are nothing special.

steve_r · 29 Nov 2012, 12:26 (Ref:3173060)

He had his fair share of decent races. He was awesome in Singapore. But the problem is that over the last 4 or 5 races of the season Hulkenberg had much stronger results out of the two, wheras IIRC early in the season it was the other way around.

p-matt · 29 Nov 2012, 13:32 (Ref:3173080)

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve_r

He had his fair share of decent races. He was awesome in Singapore. But the problem is that over the last 4 or 5 races of the season Hulkenberg had much stronger results out of the two, wheras IIRC early in the season it was the other way around.

He was pretty awesome in Bahrain as well. But hasn't really done anything else this year

**chunterer** · 30 Nov 2012, 04:52 (Ref:3173374)

It's still only his second season though and there's been flashes of brilliance in both. What he needs is consistency next year.

**Born Racer** · 2 Dec 2012, 23:13 (Ref:3174352)

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve_r

He had his fair share of decent races. He was awesome in Singapore. But the problem is that over the last 4 or 5 races of the season Hulkenberg had much stronger results out of the two, wheras IIRC early in the season it was the other way around.

It was indeed. In fact, I was surprised people weren't more critical in the first half. He seemed to go under the radar, but it's good to cut these drivers some slack seeing as they're all very good and mostly quite close on ability.

People are reactive sometimes though. After Briatore criticised Kovalainen's start with Renault, it seemed like so many on internet fora were also on his case.