“We worked hard with Mercedes over the winter on our future. I'm happy to still be involved in the DTM, and we're fully committed to doing well this year, I'm giving it 100 per cent. The DTM is a great championship, it's a good place to be, and I'm happy that I can keep my relationship with Mercedes and McLaren going this year,” said Di Resta in an interview with British magazine Autosport.
The talented 23-year old driver was heavily linked with a move to F1 this winter, following the engine deal between Mercedes and Force India. The media started rumoring about a potential clause in the contract used by the German manufacturer to impose its own drivers in the Force India lineup. The two drivers on the list were Di Resta and fellow countryman Gary Paffett.
Force India part-owner Vijay Mallya put an end to those rumors shortly after they appeared in the media, confirming both Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil (as well as test/reserve driver Vitantonio Liuzzi) for the 2009 season. No statement was made on the 2010 lineup.
Di Resta has become works' driver for Mercedes at the end of 2007, following an impressive season on board of a two-year old AMG Mercedes C-Klasse. His 4 podium appearances that year were enough argument for HWA Mercedes to sign him with “the big guys”, resulting in a runner-up spot in 2009.
Although he's regarded as the main favorite for the DTM crown this year – having topped the last testing session at Hockenheim, prior to the season opener – he'll have to face some tough competition from teammate Paffett. The former DTM champ will return to Merc's works team after two years driving one-year old machineries.
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