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."

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Michael Delaney

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