Former Williams reserve Paul di Resta sees a fair amount of risk associated with the Grove-based outfit's decision to rely on an inexperienced line-up this season.

Along with Robert Kubica, di Resta was a strong contender for the Williams drive alongside Lance Stroll, but Russian rookie Sergey Sirotkin was ultimately handed the coveted seat.

Williams has broken with its tradition of including at least one very experienced driver in its line-up, and the di Resta sees the choice as a very speculative one.

"It's a risky decision, the driver line-up, in the experience the guys have got," the Scot told Racer.

"Obviously Lance has got a year under his belt, Sirotkin coming in... The key things for me is already you've got McLaren who are a key championship contender and Renault as a constructor should be able to beat somebody like Williams.

"Where does that fall within where you are in keeping the momentum?

"Obviously as the years go on, the experience of having a Mercedes engine diminishes a bit, so they've got a tough ask.

"But there's more to the decisions than everything that comes out and fundamentally that board sat together and took what their best [decision] was from what they had on the table, for all the reasons that come into it."

Although he missed out on a full-time F1 comeback of his own, di Resta believes he gave it his best shot when he tested for Williams at the end of last year along with Kubica.

"I was very happy with the test I did [alongside Kubica in Hungary]," says the 31-year-old.

"Exceptionally happy with the test I did. I had one of those days in a car that you couldn't ask for any better, and I feel that I delivered to the best of my potential, which they can see."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Perez reveals how he became Force India's unlikely saviour

Sergio Perez has revisited one of the most extraordinary off-track stories of his Formula 1…

11 hours ago

FIA expands straight-line mode at Spa – as Alonso sounds warning

Formula 1’s return to Spa-Francorchamps this weekend will introduce a striking new element to the…

13 hours ago

McLaren set for Mercedes engine upgrade at Spa and rear-wing trial

McLaren will arrive at the Belgian Grand Prix with a fresh opportunity to reset its…

14 hours ago

Michael bows to Mika on British GP podium

On this day in 2001 at the British GP at Silverstone, Formula 1 fans were…

16 hours ago

Bearman moved to tears after driving Senna’s iconic Lotus

The Silverstone pitlane has borne witness to countless moments of motorsport history, but recently, it…

17 hours ago

Steiner: Time for McLaren to ‘grow up’ and build its own engine

McLaren’s search for answers in Formula 1 has once again turned the spotlight onto its…

18 hours ago