Di Resta rides to the rescue and replaces Massa in punishing heat of Hungaroring

PAUL DI RESTA has swapped the Sky commentary box for the Williams cockpit for today’s Hungarian Grand Prix, an experience the Scot compared to jumping off a cliff.

The 31-year-old was due to be co-commentator in place of Martin Brundle, who was suffering with an ear-related problem.

But instead Di Resta, who is Williams’ reserve driver, filled in at 90 minutes’ notice for Felipe Massa, who felt dizzy during practice.

The man from Bathgate, who had not raced in Formula One for 1,343 days avoided setting the slowest time, finishing just above Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson.

‘I was scared, nervous, anxious,’ said Di Resta (below), who competes in the DTM series.

‘At 11 o’clock this morning I was ironing my shirt preparing to do my pre-qualifying duties with Sky.

‘Then I got the call from Williams that Felipe was out and I was suddenly preparing for qualifying.

‘You get thrown into qualifying. It’s like jumping off a cliff and seeing if you can survive.

‘I felt quite comfortable quite quickly. As soon as I let go of the pit limiter it was kind of there and I was improving by half a second a lap.’

Di Resta’s start today will be his 59th in Formula One.

Plans had been in place to crown Lewis Hamilton as the one-lap king, the equal of Michael Schumacher on 68 poles, but it is instead Sebastian Vettel who will lead away here at the Hungaroring.

Hamilton was only fourth fastest yesterday and never in contention on a circuit where he has enjoyed huge success over the years.

Rather it was Ferrari who locked out the front row, a twitching of what some observers had deemed to be their dying title challenge.

Those predictions were always likely to be premature, not least on the tight 2.7 miles of the Hungaroring, a low-grip track like Monaco and Singapore that suits the Ferrari package.

Pro-Hamilton sensitivities apart, it raised the prospect of the title fight being prolonged following a bleak spell for the Scuderia since Sebastian Vettel won at Monaco at the end of May.

On a track where overtaking opportunities are seldom, Vettel will be confident of opening up his one-point gap on Hamilton.

He has every reason to think so, according to Hamilton, who made the candid admission: ‘I think it’s going to be a breeze for them tomorrow. At no moment today did I think we had a shot at pole.

‘I had a problem with vibrations but that is not the reason I didn’t beat the Ferraris.’

Hamilton threw everything at his first flying lap in the final qualifying session but ran wide at the fast Turn Four.

His second attempt was less eventful but he still struggled for the required fluency.

He finished not only behind the Ferraris but his team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

‘It’s a bit like tennis,’ said Hamilton of his two blasts at pole. ‘If you don’t ace the first serve, you don’t usually try to ace the second one. You take a little bit less risk next time.’ Hamilton’s father, Anthony, and stepmother, Linda, made a rare visit to the Formula One tour this weekend. They spent some time with Lewis yesterday evening on the top floor of the Mercedes motorhome and watched qualifying from the garage, earphones on. The best chance for Hamilton today may be at the start — a long 600 yards of opportunity — or the early corners. Another opening may be offered by the extreme heat forecast and which could take a toll on man and machine. Elsewhere, it was a decent day for McLaren, for whom Fernando Alonso qualified eighth on his 36th birthday. A little glassclinking celebration was staged for him in the team hospitality area. He looks increasingly likely to stay put, with the sense of feeling at home where he is and the lack of opportunities elsewhere combining.