Frustrating day for Paul di Resta

Paul di Resta cut a frustrated figure following a difficult day that has compromised the rest of his European Grand Prix weekend.

Di Resta completed just 11 minutes and seven laps in practice after reserve Nico Hulkenberg crashed his Force India during the first 90-minute session at the Valencia Street Circuit.
Although the damage appeared minimal, the team had to replace the gearbox and driveshaft, doing so just in time to get the 25-year-old Scot on track towards the end of the second session.
Di Resta performed creditably as he finished 14th and only 0.7secs behind team-mate Adrian Sutil, although he goes into qualifying with precious little knowledge of the track under his belt.
Di Resta knows the team's policy of running Hulkenberg in first practice has compromised him on this occasion, although it was a situation last year that gave him a platform into Formula One.
"It was frustrating, but at the same time I feel for Nico because I am sure he feels pretty low at this point," said Di Resta.
"I know it wasn't his intention to crash the car, but that is the risk of what we do.
"How do you tell somebody you've just crashed their car? It's my race car.
"I've crashed cars in the past that haven't been mine, but another driver wasn't waiting to sit in it and prepare for a race.
"It's a hard thing to accept and it does make things tricky, but it benefited me last year, with me being a rookie to the championship this year.
"Nico, though, is a different plan. He has a grand prix year behind him and he is taking part on Friday.
"But it's the team's policy, we went along with it, and up until now it's not hampered me too much. Hopefully it won't hamper me this weekend."
Di Resta's main issue now is trying to build up his confidence in final practice as the team try and ideally prepare the car to then take part in qualifying.
"The biggest thing is preparing me because the car has shown, with Adrian, to be performing reasonably well," added Di Resta.
"It's about getting me as confident as possible. Only time will tell how it will turn out."
Di Resta at least insists he is again in "full fighting spirit" after conceding to beating himself up of late following recent crashes.
Incidents in the last two races in Monaco and Montreal resulted in drive-through penalties, the second of which for a collision with Renault's Nick Heidfeld appeared particularly severe.
Di Resta has admitted to feeling down after what unfolded at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, requiring the support of those closest to him.
"I didn't think it was a risky situation, and having looked at it again with my engineer, I definitely would make the same decision again," said Di Resta.
"It did take a bit of time to get over, I'll admit that. You think about it and you beat yourself up inside.
"That's when you do need people around you to help with that. It's almost like a second opinion, to have people with you on the same wavelength because sometimes you are not always right in life.
"But I firmly believe on that occasion there was logic behind what I was trying to achieve.
"When you are down you have to lift your head, and coming off the back of two grands prix that have been difficult, we are here in full fighting spirit."