Di Resta on standby at McLaren this weekend at Silverstone

There are deals on paper and the reality on the ground. While McLaren had an agreement with its engine manufacturer Mercedes to call on reservists F1 of the German manufacturer in case of need, the Woking team has just announced that Paul di Resta will be its 3rd driver this weekend for the 70th anniversary Grand Prix. 

The Scotsman, current consultant on the channel Sky Sports F1, won the championship DTM in 2010 before competing in 3 seasons in Formula 1 with Force India between 2011 and 2013 with a best result of 4th place at the 2012 Singapore Grand Prix, matched at the 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Di Resta then returned to DTM before being named a reserve Williams in 2016. He also did a freelance stint with the Grove team when he had to replace at short notice an ailing Felipe Massa at the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix. He was also seen at United Autosports in WEC. 

The former champion of Formula 3 Euro Series (2006) stopped by the McLaren Technology Center this week to have a seat molded. The appointment of Di Resta is the result of the unavailability of Stoffel Vandoorne, retained in Berlin by the Formula e, and the ineligibility of Esteban Gutiérrez, whose last Grand Prix start dates back to the end of 2016.