Di Resta deserves F1 chance - Stewart

Sir Jackie Stewart has tipped fellow Scot Paul di Resta to make his Formula One debut in 2011.

24-year-old di Resta, the new DTM champion, was Force India's reserve and Friday driver in 2010 and is being considered for a race seat next season. Adrian Sutil, Tonio Liuzzi, Nico Hulkenberg are also linked with the two Force India drives, but triple world champion Stewart told the Edinburgh Evening News: "I don't see any reason why Paul shouldn't be on the grid next year. He's impressed everyone with what he's achieved during his Friday test sessions with Force India this year, and he's fast."

Stewart added: "He's also very clever, astute and - from what I've heard - very good with his technical feedback. I definitely think he'd help strengthen the grid even more."

Stewart said the 2011 grid of drivers is shaping up as the best in F1 history.

"In my mind, definitely, I think it's the best field ever assembled in Formula One," he said. "If 2010 was a great year, 2011 - because the same people are there with even more experience - is going to be another great year."

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