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Force India can keep improving - di Resta

Paul di Resta scored 27 points in the whole of last year and is just six points shy of that total already in 2012 © Sutton Images

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• Drivers:
• Paul di Resta
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• Vijay Mallya

• Teams:
• Racing Point

Paul di Resta believes that Force India can use its consistency to be "even stronger in the second half of the year".

Seventh place in Monaco was di Resta's fourth points finish in six races this season, giving him 21 points and leaving the team just 14 behind Williams in sixth place in the constructors' championship. At this stage last year Force India had scored ten points - of which di Resta contributed two - and having seen the team improve markedly throughout the season di Resta said it is starting from a much stronger base this time around.

"I think we've demonstrated that we can carry on where we left off last year and fight for points everywhere," di Resta said. "The teams around us are all strong, but we've shown that we are consistent and can take on teams like Lotus, Williams and Sauber, who are all looking competitive. In terms of points scored we are well ahead of where we were this time last year so we take a lot of positives from that. I believe we can keep picking up points and be even stronger in the second half of the year."

Team principal Vijay Mallya agreed that the target was now to improve the car in order to reel in Sauber and Williams.

"Six races into the season and we have 28 points - a very strong start to the year," Mallya said. "Both drivers are delivering what we expect of them and we're gaining some momentum, just as we did last year. Our car is clearly competitive and so are the drivers.

"I'm very pleased with the way things went in Monaco with both cars in the points. It was our second double points finish of the season and the result brings us much closer to our nearest competitors, Sauber and Williams. We have our eyes focused on closing the gap further and I believe we have the pace to get on terms with them in the points race soon."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.