Di Resta: It's been a joke for me
Wednesday 27th July 2011
Paul di Resta has described his recent run of bad luck as "a joke".
Di Resta has out-qualified Force India team-mate Adrian Sutil at seven of the 10 grands prix in his debut Formula One season, yet is on a barren run of eight races without scoring a point.
In contrast, Sutil has scored in three of his last five outings and is up to 11th in the drivers' standings, five places and 16 points ahead of Di Resta.
It has been a tale of woe for the Scot who, after retiring for the only time this season in Turkey, then incurred drive-through penalties in the Monaco and Canadian Grands Prix.
In Valencia for the European Grand Prix, reserve Nico Hulkenberg crashed Di Resta's car in Friday morning practice that compromised the rest of his weekend.
At Silverstone, after qualifying a career-high sixth, a pit-crew blunder and being hit by Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi wrecked his hopes of a points finish in the British Grand Prix.
Then in Sunday's race in Germany at the Nurburgring, Di Resta was hit from behind by Renault's Nick Heidfeld on the opening lap, sending him to the back of the field from where he could only finish 13th.
"I'm hoping things will soon start to turn for me," said Di Resta. "I wouldn't say what's happened to me has been frustrating, it's just more annoying than anything.
"When things do turn round I'm sure it will be better and then I'll get some momentum.
"But listen, I'm not really disappointed about the year because I've had some big highs, and there are still plenty of races to go and plenty of points up for grabs.
"More importantly we are improving and now starting to fight the teams in front of us in the constructors' championship, and that's a good step given our performance in the last few races.
"But I suppose the nice thing is Adrian has got some points and the car looks strong.
"I admit I've struggled a little bit to find the exact balance for how I feel comfortable, but with all the things that have happened to me, it's been a joke."
In Germany, although cutting his way through the slower cars for the opening few laps, Di Resta has admitted to then enduring "the loneliest race I've had".
He cannot now wait to try and restore some balance to his season in Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
"I'm glad this next race comes up so quickly," added Di Resta.
"It's the last race before the summer break so it would be good to come away with a strong result."
Credit: ESPN STAR (www.espnstar.com)
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