Paul di Resta made the unusual transition from the DTM series to Formula 1, and drove for the Force India team for four seasons. He expressed a desire to move up the grid but was overlooked for 2013, and remained with Force India. At the end of the year, he was dropped from the race team, returning to the more familiar DTM. He is currently combining DTM duties with a stint as Williams reserve driver.

F1 biography

Paul di Resta proved himself perfectly capable in a Formula One car, which was particularly important as he came from a sideways route to most F1 drivers. Rather than making his way through the single seaters of GP2 or similar, he raced in the DTM series for three years. The touring car championship, with heavily modified streetcars isn’t a traditional training ground for the more delicate Formula One machinery, but Di Resta made the transition well with barely a foot put wrong.

Consistency was the main attribute Di Resta brought to the sport, joining Force India as a test driver for one year, before being promoted to the race seat for 2012. He remained there for two more years, despite spending time quite vocally looking for a step upward on the grid. At the end of the 2013 season, Di Resta was left without a race seat, and found himself returning to the DTM series from whence he came.

He signed a deal with Williams to be their reserve driver in 2016, which continued into the following season as well - combining those duties with his DTM responsibilities and his work with Sky Sports F1 as broadcaster and pundit.

Learn more about Paul di Resta with the Pocket F1 Handbook.