Di Resta scores points again for Force India

2011 Malaysian GP team review

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Paul di Resta scored points in his second consecutive race for Force India.

Adrian SutilPaul di Resta
Qualifying position1714
Qualifying time comparison (Q2)1’37.593 (+0.223)1’37.370
Race position1110
Laps56/5656/56
Pit stops33

Force India drivers’ lap times throughout the race:

https://www.racefans.net/charts/2011drivercolours.csv

1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556
Adrian Sutil119.476108.797114.942133.388104.525104.385104.736104.995105.015105.014105.594106.604106.089105.686108.887109.307123.382104.953104.348104.277104.372104.505104.519104.592104.999104.737105.282105.272105.86106.908106.904110.045122.742102.973103.583103.619103.591103.604103.562103.791103.483103.454103.549103.529103.327103.314103.248103.418103.364103.615103.818103.467104.319105.125104.818105.503
Paul di Resta118.56108.196106.889106.487106.567106.526106.573106.927107.068107.204111.14122.994104.647104.738105.143106.297104.961104.738104.268104.116104.476104.539104.795108.237122.559103.675104.392103.905103.894103.58104.3104.338104.709105.059105.049106.878109.276125.093103.302102.982103.066103.159103.86103.947103.464103.48103.438102.883102.99102.941103.146103.759103.651106.41105.488106.636

Adrian Sutil

Sutil made contact with Rubens Barrichello at the start and had to pit for a new front wing.

He made his way back up through the field but finished out of the points in 11th.

Adrian Sutil 2011 form guide

Paul di Resta, Force India, Sepang, 2011

Paul di Resta

Di Resta out-qualified Sutil for the second race in a row. He ran a three-stop race and briefly held ninth towards the end but couldn’t keep Michael Schumacher behind, as he explained:

“I just could not hold off Michael at the end, he had fresher tyres and we had to stop a bit earlier for my third stop than predicted. But I also did not want to risk the championship point as well.”

Paul di Resta 2011 form guide

Nico Hulkenberg

Drove di Resta’s car in first practice.

2011 Malaysian Grand Prix


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    35 comments on “Di Resta scores points again for Force India”

    1. It’s amazing how sticking Di Resta in the car has made Sutil finally look average. They guy has had enough seasons in F1 to prove himself but he just can’t get the job done. If I were FI I’d stick Hulk in the car ready for Nurgurgring.

      1. Lets not right Sutil if just yet. As mentioned above, he had a collision with Barrichello at the start (who has been a little reckless so far this year, not showing signs of someone who has been racing for 19 seasons). Sutil had to pit which cost him a little time.

        Di Riesta is doing a cracking job. I do sense he feels a little nervous in the car, but he is managing it very well. I would say his rookie season will be as good as Kobayashi’s last year.

        1. There was nothing wrong with Barichello’s driving in Malaysia, how can it be his fault that Sutil hit his rear end? I highly doubt a brake test!

          1. I didnt say it was his fault, I’ve just said that Barichello’s driving his been a little reckless (i.e. the Oz GP in general, not to mention the half attempt on passing Rosberg), driving past the pits with a puncture.

            1. He already explained he wasn’t trying a pass. He outbraked himself. It was a mistake.

        2. Can anyone please argue against my feeling that Sutil and Buemi are the most boring drivers in F1? They have no personality, their racecraft is average at best (in my opinion). When did Sutil last become the driver of the day? His most entertaining performance that i can remember is Korea 2010 when he swapped paint with anything that went by. I can’t recall any flashes of brilliance on a race day made by him, nor Buemi. Well, Buemi at least can have a proper accident, even Sutil’s crashes are boring.

          I’d love to be wrong, i’m sure there is some race to say “Wow, he really rocked that day, he drove Wheels of his car” because if there isn’t, i can see no reason not to write him off after five years in F1.

          Prove me wrong, please.

          1. He had a very good race in Monaco 2008, Apart from that I completely agree. Especially now they’ve got Hulkenberg sitting in the garage each GP, he might not cut it anymore.

        3. Actually Sutil did do an impressive last stint. After their last stops they were some 20 seconds apart, Sutil closed that on older tyres.
          He did a whole of 22 laps on those hard tyres.

        4. he had a collision with

          if I had a pound for every time I’ve seen that in the same sentence as Sutil I’d be a rich man.

          Quick but always getting in scuffles.

          Paul is a really good driver, and I cant help but think if Nico keeps putting in good stints in testing, and Paul outqualis Adrian, Nico will make the drive for next year at the latest.

      2. Its a little too soon to say di Resta is getting the better of Sutil. If it wasn’t for ‘race wrecker’ Rubens, I think Sutil could have finished in front of him during the race.

      3. Sutil had a gearbox problem in qualifying and a broken wing and unscheduled stop in the race. But he still only finished 9 seconds behind di Resta. That, if you ask me, is impressive.

        1. Plus Sutil had older tyres and was still catching him very quickly at the end.

      4. Tempted to say the same! 2009 he seemed pretty good, last year he looked good against Liuzzi (which isn’t hard) and this year he really has to pick his feet up. Can see him there all season and the Hulk should be in no rush to replace him, but he may well do in 2012.

    2. Did Sutil get a penalty for hitting Barrichello? ;)

      1. It looked to me like barrichello brake-tested him coming on to the straight. Either that or Sutil used his KERS and DRS too early.

        1. Either that or the FIA are incompetent, I know what my money is on. ;)

    3. I think its great to see Di Resta making smart decisions without the usual youthful agression and naivety (im young (19) before anyone asks) like settling for points and not risking them, and beating sutil twice now! Keep it up lad!

      1. Seeing that DiResta collected a lot of experience in DTM and other series’ before entering F1, I’m not suprised by his driving.

        I too hope he can keep it up.

      2. Sutil beat him in Australia.

        1. Which is precisely what experience and the form book would have predicted Sutil would do.
          That’s reading from the script.

          Di Resta beating Sutil in only his second GP
          is not what you’d expect to find in any script. Sutil’s side of the garage is going to be an interesting place this weekend.

          Next two or three races are going to make Force India watching a real spectator sport.

          1. It is what you’d expect to find in the script if Sutil had a damaged car by lap 3.

    4. if you look at lap time chart they they doing nearly compare able time and by the end sutil pulled a nearly half a min gap to nearly ten second

    5. if there not been front wing change due collision with rubens then both car cars could be in points

    6. Force India haven’t had the car yet but somehow managed to have the points. Good maturity.

    7. I wonder if Sutil will be passed over for FP1 in China this friday and allow di Resta for full amount of time to learn the track. di Resta is definatley the car im watching for when a FI car flashes on screen, he’s done a top job so far.

      1. Yes, Hulk will drive Sutil’s car in China.

    8. Sutil in danger. The Hulk is eyeing on your seat.

    9. Good job Paul, I got too see him close up at the FOTA fans forum last year and he’s a lovely bloke. Glad he got the drive and he’s doing a solid job so far.

    10. Force India were lucky to score in Melbourne but seemed to have real pace in Sepang. Hopefully this means the team is continuing to improve.

    11. Well done Di Resta. He seems to just fit in F1. Good cool head on him and he clearly has alot of racing experience which you can use anywhere regardless of formula.

    12. Gnarly Racing (@)
      11th April 2011, 20:12

      Great to see him making hay while Williams and Mercedes don’t shine. Points in both races is great stuff, particularly after sitting out first practice (crazy) and having to learn an unfamiliar track. But is he the first man ever to score a point for 12th place?!

    13. I think Sutil had a KERS problem in qualy, so maybe that’s why di Resta out-qualified him. But still, a very good job by di Resta, he has a very bright future.

      And I think, apart from Vettel, he’s the only one to qualify and finish in the same place in both races (Vettel got 2 poles and 2 wins, di Resta qualified 14th twice and was 10th twice).

    14. Still good momentum by the team they are picking up valuable points this season. Paul is racing well & is keeping his nose clean.

    15. Hope that FI gains some pace in their next upgrade.. however when is it coming as I see no news regarding FI.. looking for a better coverage for FI..

      1. FI will have big updates coming for Europe. They are hoping to get lot out of that.

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