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Scots charger Di Resta runs rule over shiny new F1 Brits
PAUL DI RESTA has warned rising stars George Russell and Lando Norris they will need to take it up a gear in F1.
Russell of Williams and McLaren’s Norris head to the grid in Melbourne as serial winners in the junior categories.
But while they may think they are used to life in the fast lane, former Force India driver turned Sky Sports expert analyst Di Resta warns the step up to F1 is huge.
He said: “No matter how well you think you are prepared for it, you are not”
Scottish star Di Resta knows all about trying to translate youthful promise into grand prix success.
After all, the 32-year-old had the beating of Sebastian Vettel in his early years before being given his big chance with Force India in 2011.
And Di Resta is eagerly anticipating what 19-year-old Norris and Russell, 21, will bring to the track, as the search for a British superstar to follow Lewis Hamilton welcomes its next pair of candidates.
Di Resta said: “These are massive moments. The limelight is on them. It will be interesting to see how their characters build.
“They have been rivals all the way through their careers and have got to F1 at the same point. They are both starting from zero again.
“Now it all comes down to those five lights on the grid.” As soon as those lights go out at Albert Park tomorrow, the task of proving they deserve to be among the world’s best 20 drivers begins for Norris and Russell. Di Resta, part of the Sky Sports team that will broadcast all 21 races live and exclusive this season, added: “I was fortunate to score points in my first couple of grands prix and had a decent run early on. “That will be the task. What they are up against is 18 of the most stellar drivers in the world who can turn it on. “That is what they have got to stand up to. The first three races dictate where your career is going to be. “And when you get towards Monaco time, there is already talk about next year’s driver line-up. Hopefully, they will make an impact.” Di Resta’s consistency and speed in his second season in F1 sparked gossip he could sign for either Ferrari or Mercedes. But, after three years at the top table, Di Resta was shown the door as Force India opted to bring back Nico Hulkenberg and sign Sergio Perez – the Mexican who continues to be backed by the cash of telecoms billionaire Carlos Slim.
Norris came through the McLaren junior programme, with Russell graduating from the Mercedes equivalent.
They bring a bulging bag of sponsorship money along with them but must do the business on the track.
And if that is not enough pressure, there is also the job of reviving the fallen giants.
Di Resta said: “They have been underperforming and have a lot of weight on their shoulders.
“They are in cars that are in the midfield battle or could equally be at the back of the grid.”
Outshining your team-mate is another way to catch the eye and Di Resta is backing Russell to get the better of Robert Kubica at Williams but he fears Norris will have a much harder task beating Carlos Sainz at McLaren.
He added: “For British motorsport, it is a great thing to have them there alongside Lewis.”
The first three races dictate where your career is going to be PAUL DI RESTA