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Paul di Resta believes Mercedes' DTM overhaul is paying off

Paul di Resta believes that Mercedes' massive overhaul is paying off, as they head to this weekend's second round of the DTM season with podiums already on the board

After three seasons in Formula 1 with Force India, the 2010 champion returned to the series last year, finishing 15th in the standings with three fourth­-places his best results as Mercedes struggled.

This time last year Mercedes had failed to pick up a single point after the opening round. A massive restructure then began mid-­year, with a rehomologated C-­Coupe introduced late in the season.

Mercedes didn't claim a dry­weather podium in 2014, but Pascal Wehrlein took second and di Resta third in the opening race of the new campaign at Hockenheim earlier this month, before Gary Paffett finished third in the wet Sunday race.

"Mercedes AMG, what they've achieved from last year at Hockenheim to this year at Hockenheim, the hard work has paid off massively," said di Resta, who is sixth in the points heading to Lausitzring this weekend.

"We had a very strong end to [2014], finishing fourth and almost getting onto the podium, and ultimately I think we went into the winter knowing we could optimise that.

"[In] winter testing, we were unclear with where we are, but this kind of rubber stamps that because we had a strong test at Oschersleben.

"To get on the podium shows that wasn't a one-­off, and the team is still in the restructure and there are still improvements to come.

"I think when you're a bit older like me, and certainly a bit wiser, in the background you see these things making a difference."

The new Mercedes aero package was introduced by Christian Vietoris at Zandvoort last September, before being rolled out across the driver line­up for the 2014 finale.

Following further refinement during testing, di Resta says he feels "a lot more comfortable".

"Not only me, I think I speak for all of the drivers in feeling a lot more comfortable with how the car is to drive," he said. "It's a big step forward.

"We came to Hockenheim at the end of last year with the new package and we knew we were onto something that's a bit better, and we've gone from strength to strength, really.

"It's put us in the mix, which says that we've done a very good job over the winter."

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