Di Resta rues ‘ambitious’ tactics which cost him points

Jun 2 2011 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

PAUL di Resta admits he didn’t show enough patience on his Monaco Grand Prix debut after a tangle with Jaime Alguersuari cost him a penalty and ultimately a points finish.

The Bathgate Bullet took his place on the grid in the glitziest grand prix on the Formula One circuit in 14th place. He was doing well until he clashed with Alguersuari's Toro Rosso at the Loews hairpin on lap 24.

It meant di Resta’s Force India had to have a new nose-cone fitted while the 25-year-old was hit with a drive-through penalty.

Di Resta confesses the clash came after he attempted a pass which was ‘probably a bit too ambitious’.

He later tried the same manoeuvre to pass Virgin’s Jerome d'Ambrosio at the same corner with the nose-cone taking a second bashing and di Resta receiving a second drive-through penalty.

In the end di Resta had to settle for 12th place which was just two places outside the points, leaving the Bullet to reflect on a frenetic debut on the streets of the most famous grand prix.

He said: “I think it was all running quite smoothly to begin with and our strategy seemed to be going well.

“After my first pit stop the team told me that to make the strategy work I needed to pass Alguersuari so I tried to overtake him at the hairpin.

“That’s when I made contact and damaged my front wing, which is why I had to make an early second stop. I have to hold my hands up for this accident because I was probably a bit too ambitious.

“It’s a shame because the car was working well and without this incident I think I could have scored some points.”