Q & A with Paul di Resta

AUTOSPORT spoke to the DTM race-winner about his first day in the VJM-03.

Q. You didn't get the best of the weather but at least you managed to get a few laps in.

Paul Di Resta: I think it was quite productive. The main goal today was to get the 300km for the superlicence. We had to run when the conditions weren't probably anywhere near consistent enough to do anything useful. It was just a matter of getting the mileage - which we achieved so that was the main objective. We got 10 laps in semi-dry conditions, and that gave me a little bit of an impression of the car. In that respect it wasn't too bad - but it would be nice to get some dry running when I get back in the car.

Q. It's not ideal for trying to find your way around a new car when the track is changing all the time.

PdR: It was completely different each time I went out. There was no way you even build on it - it was almost to the point where you chose the wrong tyres because the conditions changed so quickly, and the wind. When the sun did come out, then a shower came on pretty heavy. It was so different each lap. That's life, it's the same for everybody, but when we had that short spell it would have been nice to get more consistent conditions.

Q. How did that affect the programme the team was trying to get through?

PdR: For sure we had a lot of system checks and some stuff to run through, and we managed to achieve that. You have to be very realistic, looking at the forecast and looking at how it was looking. The weather is better than it was predicted anyway so in hindsight it turned out a better day than most people expected.

Q. Adrian [Sutil] didn't get quite as much time this afternoon, was there a problem there?

PdR: No, there was no problem, I think it was just when I finished and then the changeover, just before I think they were going to go out they had the heavy shower and the track conditions were inconsistent again. It was just productive running - not wasting too much time when it's unnecessary.

Q. So are you feeling comfortable in the car?

PdR: Yes. For sure it is going to take a long time to feel completely comfortable. The team are trying to make it as easy as possible for me, giving me all the information I need and they are very welcoming, but I just need some time to fit in more. And certainly be more comfortable in a Formula 1 environment because any experience I'm doing is something new and something I need to learn.

Q. It's in their interest as well because they need to be sure that you are ready for when you start running on Fridays.

PdR: Well that's the thing - they need to give me as much information as possible because we are going to be running on most of the Fridays. I am going to be part of the team, undergoing a lot of the technical meetings and also running through some of their race preparations at the beginning of the weekend. It's not going to be any different because I am in the car. The more time you spend with the team the more comfortable you feel, it's only natural that it takes some time to get to the point where you are not thinking about fitting in. Just now we have to run through all the systems and it's quite tough to undergo these. But everybody does it so I am sure I will be able to achieve that.

Q. Any idea when you think you might be in the car more regularly?

PdR: I am sure they will announce when I will run again, we have got a plan ahead and I'm hoping that's going to go through. I'm sure the team will keep you updated.