• Bahrain Grand Prix

'There's an edge to things' - di Resta

Paul di Resta: "There is some concern and some people have felt it a bit more than others" © Sutton Images

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Paul di Resta says that "there is an edge to things" in Bahrain after two Force India team members decided to leave the country on security grounds.

Following an incident that saw four Force India mechanics caught up in a violent clash between protesters and police, two team members requested they be allowed to return home. Nico Hulkenberg said that it isn't right that the team is exposed to such situations, and di Resta admitted that the incident was "affecting everybody" in the team.

"It's a difficult one isn't it," di Resta is quoted by Sporting Life when asked if Bahrain was safe. "I'm sure it's affecting everybody at the moment, the actions that have happened. I've not spoken to everybody within the team, but there is some concern and some people have felt it a bit more than others. As for me, I'm pretty neutral. It's how I've felt for the last couple of weeks, although there is an edge to things at the moment. It's early (into the weekend) and everybody is here, and at the end of the day if there is a race on then I want to be racing."

Although he said he didn't feel that uncomfortable himself, di Resta had sympathy for the team members that were returning home.

"I can understand that everybody has their own feelings and families. I'm not sure what has driven them to make their decision. It's an unfortunate circumstance, and it's affected our team."

Di Resta added that he felt there would be no change to the team's approach to the weekend as a result of the incident.

"The guidelines and the way the team are approaching things at the moment are the same, and I think they'll continue to do that. I believe all the teams are also working together with all the information they have. We're just going about things as normal. I don't think, from what we've seen at the moment, the people (protesters) are here to hurt us.

"The people we have providing us with information are telling us it's demonstrations, and you hope their opinion is right. Everybody is individual, but when you feel uncomfortable, then you take action like the two people in our team have done. Right now, I don't feel that uncomfortable, but then I've not been here long enough to understand it."

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