Di Resta, ok so far, but not great.

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Big Ern

Big Ern

Lord, Master, Guru & Emperor
Jan 28, 2011
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OK, so he had a good race yesterday, now it seems everyone is shouting for him to get a good drive, why? He scored almost half his total points tally yesterday, and still trails his team-mate by 8 points, and is behind Kobayashi who has a worse car. His race was effective yesterday mainly because of the decision to put him on hard tyres at the start.

Now, I'm not saying he's crap or anything like that, but I do feel he's being a bit over sensationalised on here due to his result in ONE race. He's had his fair share of poor drives this season which seem to be forgotten thanks to him getting a 6th, yet for me the most impressive rookie yesterday was Perez.

Lets not forget that Di Resta has been racing at a high level for many years and has plenty of experience compared to the younger generation. He was racing powerful single seaters before Vettel, Perez, Maldonado, Alguersuari et al.
 
My point is people need to calm down and take a look at the facts before we go all hysteria, stick him on a pedestal so we can push him off it if he makes a mistake and loses his nose and gets a drive through, although he has already done that this season, luckily for him it came before he had such an excellent result, otherwise some could be calling for his head already. And people seem to forget that he's been racing a long time, so does the 'rookie' title really apply compared to someone like Perez?

I'm not bashing him, just the 'he's had a good result, he must be the new best thing' attitude, which is quite possibly the reason for Hamiltons demise.
 
As a mid fielder we only really see him getting lapped or holding up faster cars when he's on a odd strategy. We never really see the full picture.
 
Miggins said:
My point is people need to calm down and take a look at the facts before we go all hysteria, stick him on a pedestal so we can push him off it if he makes a mistake and loses his nose and gets a drive through, although he has already done that this season, luckily for him it came before he had such an excellent result, otherwise some could be calling for his head already. And people seem to forget that he's been racing a long time, so does the 'rookie' title really apply compared to someone like Perez?

I'm not bashing him, just the 'he's had a good result, he must be the new best thing' attitude, which is quite possibly the reason for Hamiltons demise.
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My earlier response went missing due to the site being down (I think).

Anyway Miggs, I see what you're getting at now, and agree that di Resta should not be over-hyped. However, I also believe he is doing a great job and so far, for me at least, he is the best 'rookie' of this season, in spite of a couple of poorer races. Actually, I cannot think of any rookie who has not had a couple of poor races.

You also question whether the 'rookie' term applies to di Resta. Well, 'rookie' is an Americanism describing one's first season in a new discipline, or sub-discipline of any sport and obviously this is di Resta's first year in F1 so the term is applicable. Let's bear in mind that all drivers' careers have different backgrounds - and as a result, all drivers are unique in their 'rookie' season (as well as any other, of course!).

Make no mistake, F1 is a very different kettle of fish to most other racing disciplines - with the possible exception of GP2. Nonetheless, even from GP2, one's first year in F1 fully justifies the term 'rookie'. Every driver who gets into F1 has a history that contributed to it. None of those histories eliminate the 'rookie' title from a newcomer to any specific discipline, even from the British Touring Cars to World Touring Cars or DTM (which are essentially closer to each other).
 
I don't understand the hype surrounding Di Resta. So far he's done okay imo, the BBC coverage has a huge role to play in inflating his value
 
AS1960 said:
I don't understand the hype surrounding Di Resta. So far he's done okay imo, the BBC coverage has a huge role to play in inflating his value
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Fair point AS.
Most people including myself, form an impression borne of all the influences which affect that impression. When the media is the only source of information, it is very easy for the BBC (or Murdoch) to colour these impressions significantly.
 
BBC have him interviewed every week. For me he has beaten a team mate who has no real qualities. He still makes small mistakes and at the moment there is nothing special about him.

What annoys me is when he is interviewed and his face is about an inch from the camera, HE STANDS SO CLOSE!!!
 
AS puts my thoughts more succinctly, he's done ok, but hasn't set the world alight.

LH F1 legend: But he isn't beating his team-mate, His team-mate is 8 points ahead, that's almost half Di resta's points again, and this during a season where Sutil has had some off track problems that seemed to have affected him during the early mid-season.
 
In the wet stuff both Force Indias have struggled. In the dry, I make Di Resta's record:

Australia, points, 1 place behind Sutil.
Malaysia, points, 1 place ahead of Sutil.
China, no points, 4 places ahead of Sutil.
Turkey, mechanical failure beyond Paul's control, Sutil outside points.
Spain, no points, 1 place ahead of Sutil.
Monaco, no points, 5 places behind Sutil (street circuit)
Valencia, no points, 4 places behind Sutil (street circuit)
Nürburgring, no points, 7 places behind Sutil.
Monza, points, Sutil retired with hydraulic issues beyond his control.
Singapore, points, 2 places ahead of Sutil (street circuit).

Taking Monaco to Nürburgring with a pinch of salt (the two circuits where Sutil's experience was the biggest advantage + Di Resta being taken out by Heidfeld in Germany), they've been pretty evenly matched.

Forza Ferrari: the best moves in recent races have been done to Alonso, but no-one's questioning that he is one of the very best.
 
North North Watford said:
…Forza Ferrari: the best moves in recent races have been done to Alonso, but no-one's questioning that he is one of the very best.
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Hmm… that's a very interesting point actually, Watford. Alonso seems to have dipped below the radar of this forum, as well as others in the UK. I wonder why this is?
 
cosicave said:

Hmm… that's a very interesting point actually, Watford. Alonso seems to have dipped below the radar of this forum, as well as others in the UK. I wonder why this is?
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I have mentioned a few times that I thought he's been weak defending his position, first time i noticed it was Germany when he hugged the inside of turn 2 giving Hamilton so much room he was practically begging to be overtaken. At first I was a bit 'hmmm', bu when you consider they were against Webber and Hamilton, 2 drivers prone to accidents, maybe he decided 3 or 4 points less is better than a DNF. He was tougher at Monza, and yesterdy I think he just went to sleep a little, plus the ferrari isn't the redbull.
 
Miggins said:
I have mentioned a few times that I thought he's been weak defending his position, first time i noticed it was Germany when he hugged the inside of turn 2 giving Hamilton so much room he was practically begging to be overtaken. At first I was a bit 'hmmm', bu when you consider they were against Webber and Hamilton, 2 drivers prone to accidents, maybe he decided 3 or 4 points less is better than a DNF. He was tougher at Monza, and yesterdy I think he just went to sleep a little, plus the ferrari isn't the redbull.
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Yesterday I think Alonso was fair. Webber was making audacious moves and he had to give him space or end up in the barrier, the same with Spa at Eau Rouge.
 
Di Resta hasnt been exceptional and I dont think he's been the best rookie either - Perez is better. He can do things that I believe Di Resta cant:

- Adapting style to make any strategy work
- Amazing overtakes (e.g. on Alguersuari on the outside of T9 Malaysia or on Massa at T5 Spain)
- Even with silly strategies, usually finishing higher than where starting position
- Quick in the wet
- Quick on street circuits

Perez is the future of F1 and soon he will be at Ferrari. Even as a rookie he is very mature and intelligent. I cant say the same for Di Resta.
 
If he continues like this he'll definitely deserve a seat next year. But like I've said before most of what we know about his driving is assumption. I've not missed a race this year but yet I rarely get to see di Resta on screen when he's in full flow.
 
And I dont think he's been the best rookie either - Perez is better.
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Cobblers.

He can do things that I believe Di Resta cant:

- Adapting style to make any strategy work
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As has Di Resta.

- Amazing overtakes (e.g. on Alguersuari on the outside of T9 Malaysia or on Massa at T5 Spain)
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Vettel averages one great overtake a season. Still a great driver.

- Even with silly strategies, usually finishing higher than where starting position
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As has Di Resta

- Quick in the wet
- Quick on street circuits
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Not a fair comparison this year, as Di Resta hadn't raced in a single seater series for 4 years or so. On his third attempt in each of those two conditions, he pulled off a fantastic result. We need another season to properly compare them on this front.

Perez is the future of F1 and soon he will be at Ferrari.
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Is that when you sack Massa, or when Alonso gets bored of not winning?
 
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