• Italian Grand Prix - FP2

Di Resta sets Force India Q3 target

Paul di Resta was 11th fastest in FP2 © Sutton Images

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Paul di Resta says Force India should target making it in to Q3 for the Italian Grand Prix after being surprised by the field spread in Friday practice.

Both Force India's were over 1.3s off the pace set by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel at a circuit where it expected to be more competitive. Di Resta admitted that the gaps between cars in the afternoon session were bigger than the team had expected and as a result qualifying in the top ten would be a tall order.

"At the moment making Q3 is a big target and something we need to achieve, but it's looking like it's all got to come together to do that," di Resta said. "I think the field is spread out probably a bit more than we thought it is and definitely making Q3 is going to be a challenge at the moment for us where we are. The car seems to be relatively balanced where it is but we've just struggled to get the lap time that the others are getting out of it. So we've got a bit of work to do overnight to try and improve upon it."

Di Resta conceded that Force India could choose not to run in Q3 if it made it through in order to have an open strategy choice for Sunday, but said getting the rear wing setting right could also be key.

"It could be [that it doesn't run in Q3] and it could also be in terms of your downforce level and what you think is ready. I think with the less DRS in qualifying this year and a bit more in the race I think that's a difficult bit and I think that's a bit that some teams have read better than others and you'll see that over the weekend."

With Sergio Perez just ahead of di Resta in FP2 he said getting ahead of McLaren in qualifying was still a possibility.

"We're close to them. They've been a bit better than us in both sessions but we made a bit of an improvement compared to them so hopefully we can make the same again. But they look very strong on higher fuel so I wouldn't say it is confusing but I would say we have to work to try and stay where we are at least."

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