• Korean Grand Prix

Di Resta gets vote of confidence

ESPN Staff
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Force India endured a torrid race as both cars eventually retired in Korea © Getty Images
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Paul di Resta was given a vote of confidence from Force India after he crashed out of the third in succession in the Korean Grand Prix.

Following driver errors ended both his races in Italy and Singapore, di Resta spun in to the tyre barriers at Yeongam on lap 25 to cause his retirement. Having admitted it was his fault once again, di Resta apologised to Force India after the race.

"I have to hold my hands up and apologise to the team," di Resta said. "Maybe I took a little bit too much kerb and that's sent me off the track. The way we've set the car up means it has been quite edgy and difficult to drive, and that's what has caught me out today, although whether it has cost us points is hard to say. The performance in the race was not where we wanted it to be and the front tyres were wearing out too quickly. So we need to have a rethink ahead of Suzuka and go there determined to have a clean race."

However, deputy team principal Bob Fernley said that - while di Resta's future is uncertain - his current form would not be crucial to his hopes of retaining his drive.

"I don't think he's on top form in terms of where he wants to be clearly himself," Fernley told Sky Sports. "This is our third season with Paul; we've had two and a half seasons of fantastic effort in from him, so we wouldn't judge somebody over two or three races.

"It's not my decision at the end of the day anyway, it's a decision for Vijay [Mallya] and the shareholders. We will obviously look at that in our normal process after the Indian Grand Prix where we take the guidance from a number of our key people and we always end up with a consensus. Certainly a couple of races isn't going to be a black mark on anybody, we look at the total package."

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