Di Resta: 'Williams drive was within touching distance'

©WRI2

He could see it and he could feel it, and he did everything he could to get it, but Paul di Resta ultimately missed out on Williams' plum drive for 2018.

The Grove-based outfit's 2017 reserve driver, who stepped in for a sick Felipe Massa last summer in Hungary, was among the three contenders shortlisted for this year's coveted seat alongside Lance Stroll.

Di Resta fought hard for the drive, and went up against Robert Kubica in two shootout tests last fall, but to no avail as Williams has set its sights on a third man, 22-year-old Russian hopeful Sergey Sirotkin.

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"It was within touching distance again of getting the race drive, and it’s not happened," di Resta told Crash.net.

"Whether my age is against me now, I don’t know.

"I enjoyed driving that race," he said of his experience at the Hungaroring last year.

"I tried to represent the team as best I could with the limited time that I had. Ultimately it puts you back in the framework in some way."

Di Resta admitted that he likely won't be retained as Williams' reserve driver this season, which is why he has turned his attention to Formula E, sampling the all-electric category with Jaguar on Sunday in Marrakech during the series' rookie test.

"[Williams'] decision will be taken very soon. It will be announced very soon," he said.

"But as a driver you have to look after number one and that’s me personally.

"This is a championship that is just underneath the level of Formula 1, and as a professional driver, that’s what excites you."

With Mercedes entering Formula E next year, the Scot, who raced for the German manufacturer in DTM, is "definitely" interested in prolonging his relationship with the prestigious brand when it charges up in 2019.

"I think any professional driver at the level I am at, you have to be," he added.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.