Paul di Resta has been confirmed as Force India’s second driver, partnering Adrian Sutil for the 2011 season, the team has unveiled.
The Scott will be the third Briton to join the grid, alongside Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
The news was announced at one of the sponsors HQ’s in Scotland, confirming the news which had been speculated since late 2010.
“Naturally I am thrilled to be making my race debut this season. Becoming an F1 driver has been a long-held ambition of mine, something I’ve wanted to do since I first stepped into a kart, and to finally realise it feels amazing,” he said.
“I’ve worked really hard for this opportunity throughout my career and to get it with Force India, a young team that’s got ambitions as big as mine, is genuinely exciting. I can’t wait to be on the grid in Bahrain, it can’t come soon enough.”
Nico Hulkenberg was also confirmed as the teams third driver for the upcoming season having left Williams at the end of 2010.
“I am happy I can stay in F1 in 2011. I am looking forward to working with Force India and I am sure the team will continue improving in the future. I appreciate the team trusting me by signing a long-term contract. I will do my very best to live up to expectations,” said the German.
Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal of Force India F1 Team added: “I am genuinely excited by the drivers we will be fielding in 2011. I believe that the combination of talent we’ve assembled gives us one of the strongest line-ups on the grid: Adrian has matured into one of F1’s most consistent and highly-rated young drivers, while Paul is, I believe, a real star of the future. He has won in every category in his career and this base speed was in evidence when he got in the car on Fridays last year.
“With Nico, signing him was too good an opportunity to let by. He showed a good racing head and talent and I was amazed by his control in Brazil last year. Together I think they are a formidable partnership and will help take us to the next level of performance.”
