FRUSTRATING DAY AT THE SPA!
Spa, Belgium: Sunday, August 28, 2011
Paul cruelly missed out on Formula One world championship points after a series of events severely compromised his Belgian Grand Prix.
Starting from 17th on the grid at Spa-Francorchamps, Paul found himself the innocent victim of a first corner collision. His race strategy to recovery was then further wrecked by the appearance of the Safety Car following Lewis Hamilton's high-speed crash.
"We had actually just made the call to pit for fresh tyres," Paul, who eventually finished 11th, just 6.379secs behind the Williams of Pastor Maldonado in 10th, explained. "I'd literally just confirmed I was coming into the pits when Lewis crashed at the top of the hill and the Safety Car was deployed.
"Of course, as soon as that happens whichever member of the team who is ahead at that points gets to make the call whether to pit or not. Adrian (Sutil) was just ahead of me, so he decided to pit. That meant I had to stay out for another lap, and when I pitted from fifth, because of the concertina effect behind the Safety Car, I rejoined in 13th.
"I feel quite frustrated. I came here with good ambitions — quite rightly so — to score some good points. The package here is normally quite strong, but unfortunately when you qualify that far back you're in the mix."
Paul's race was essentially compromised right from the start when, having made his traditional quick start and made up places, he ducked down the inside of Turn One immediately behind the McLaren of 13th-placed Jenson Button.
But as Paul positioned his Force India, the Virgin of Timo Glock came careering down the inside having locked his brakes. The impact damaged the sidepod and rear suspension of his Force India, and the impact propelled him into the rear of Button's McLaren. That in turn further damaged the Scot's front wing.
"Into Turn One, Timo Glock was fairly ambitious," Paul continued. "He hit the side of my car and damaged the rear suspension, sidepod and front wing. From there on it was just a very long, hard race with an awful lot of understeer on the car.
"The team said it was a bit of decision as to whether we should change the front nose or just carry on, but there really wasn't much more I could really do.
"I'm frustrated because, despite having started from 17th, I knew we had a strong chance of another good, sting point-scoring finish today. Adrian started just two places ahead of me and he finished seventh; I could have been ahead of him, or at least right alongside of him if we hadn't had the first corner problems and the safety car.
"But that's motorsport. We head to Monza in a fortnight now full of confidence knowing we have a car capable of mixing it with the best. We just need that little bit of luck again."
Credit: Paul Di Resta (www.pauldiresta.com)
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