Paul di Resta hopeful Force India can return to Valencia-like form in German Grand Prix

The team's VJM05 was a top 10 contender all weekend around the streets of Valencia, with di Resta and team-mate Nico Hulkenberg both making Q3 and scoring points.

Force India went into the British Grand Prix with high hopes of another strong performance, but it failed to score any points, with Hulkenberg coming home 12th and di Resta retiring after a collision at the start.

However, ahead of this weekend's German Grand Prix, di Resta said in the Hockenheim paddock that he expects his team to keep producing strong performances like it did in Spain two races ago.

"We're coming here still having to learn a lot [about recent updates]," he said. "Valencia was a strong weekend, and I think that would be more reflective [of potential] for us.

"I don't think we were happy with where the car was [at the start of the season], but as a team we've given ourselves the chance to fight for some strong results. Now, it's about getting those results more regularly, and making sure we are in the mix. And I believe we can do that."

The Scot added that he expects the midfield battle to swing from race to race as different circuits suit different cars.

"It's close," he said of the battle with Williams and Sauber. "It seems to change a lot as well. I think it's all about if your car suits a track more than the others, that's the difference between whether you are in front of your main competitors or not.

"Williams aren't out of touch [in the championship], but they have been strong in the last couple of races. It's hard to fight where Sauber are [16 points ahead], but there is certainly no reason why we can't take it to them.

"We are a team that tends to start slower and then come on and develop more through the year. I'm not going to say we're going to beat the other guys because the next races might be good for them too. But for us, scoring points is a realistic target."