Williams considering Di Resta for 2018 drive

  • Published on 02 Aug 2017 16:32
  • comments 6
  • By: Chris Soulsby

Williams' Paddy Lowe has revealed that the team is considering Paul di Resta for a drive at the team for next season. This follows an impressive performance from the Scotsman at the Hungarian Grand Prix where he stood in for Felipe Massa who fell ill during the weekend. 

90 minutes before qualifying, di Resta was called up to drive the Williams FW40. Having no experience of driving a car with a new specification 2017 chassis and having limited running in a car powered by a V6 Hybrid power unit, di Resta looked set for a difficult session and a difficult weekend. However, he impressively qualified in 19th place, ahead of Sauber's Marcus Ericsson and was only seven tenths of a second slower than Lance Stroll. In the race he enjoyed a fairly competitive run before retiring with a technical issue. 

This impressed Williams, and Paddy Lowe has since hinted that di Resta could make a return to F1 after being absent for three years. “We’re very open-minded about what we’re going to do for next year anyway. Being open-minded, we’ll consider all options,” he said. “I think he’s done his reputation no end of good this weekend. I noticed that Mercedes said they might give him the same call, and that’s the situation.

“We have unfortunately got the prospect of less destinations for accomplished drivers in the future with the position of LMP1 and DTM, which are really two of the next tier motorsports for conscious Formula 1 drivers," he added. “We’ve got a bit of a problem on the horizon with a lack of destinations for drivers that don’t quite make it into Formula 1."

With Stroll looking set to remain with the team for a second year, it is most likely Felipe Massa that di Resta could replace, although it is understood that Williams is considering keeping the Brazilian driver for another season because of the level of experience he can offer.

 

Chris Soulsby

HEINZ

Posts: 61

Why keep Stroll? It doesn't make any sense unless he is able to beat Massa. Which he wont :)

  • 1
  • Aug 2 2017 - 16:38

Replies (6)

Login to reply
  • HEINZ

    Posts: 61

    Why keep Stroll? It doesn't make any sense unless he is able to beat Massa. Which he wont :)

    • + 1
    • Aug 2 2017 - 16:38
  • Stroll is not exactly is good Benchmark to rely upon.

    • + 1
    • Aug 2 2017 - 16:41
  • I dont see why not, but I do think Stroll should have one more year to prove himself.

    • + 0
    • Aug 2 2017 - 16:51
  • boudy

    Posts: 1,168

    Yes please. Always found it weird he wasn't snapped up in 2014 by a big team. Great driver will go a lot faster than stroll.

    • + 1
    • Aug 2 2017 - 17:25
  • We need new blood...... not the same old drivers who didn't really make it in a big way anyway, and was it that impressive against Stroll?

    • + 1
    • Aug 2 2017 - 17:35
    • boudy

      Posts: 1,168

      Nope ... i disagree. F1 needs good drivers and exciting racing. And he did impress me first time. An very underrated driver.

      • + 0
      • Aug 2 2017 - 18:56

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Williams
  • Points 0
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 1
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Apr 16 1986 (38)
  • Place of b. Uphall, GB
  • Weight 78 kg
  • Length 1.85 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar