Di Resta on a mission in Monaco as rookie awaits first chance to take on principality in F1 car

By SIMON CASS Updated:

Paul di Resta is more accustomed to negotiating the streets of Monaco in a diminutive city runabout, he is even not averse to taking the bus. 

But on Thursday afternoon the Force India driver gets his chance to scream around the principality for the first time in a grand prix car.

Life's a blur: Di Resta is set to take on Monaco for the first time in Formula One

Life's a blur: Di Resta is set to take on Monaco for the first time in Formula One

Di Resta, who moved to Monaco earlier this year, last drove the street circuit in a Formula Three car six years ago and freely admits to some butterflies as he contemplates doing so again in a Formula One machine.

'Now you see the track all built though, it is a bit daunting knowing the speed you will be going around at,' said di Resta.

'I watched an on-board lap with my engineer an hour ago and I asked him if it was speeded up!'

Life in the fast lane is part and parcel of Monaco on a Grand Prix weekend but, having swapped Scotland for the South of France, di Resta insists it is the tranquillity and anonymity of the millionaire's playground which prompted the move.

Moving home: Di Resta swapped Scotland for the south of France

Moving home: Di Resta swapped Scotland for the South of France

'A lot of the guys told me this is the place to be,' said di Resta. 'Until you see it away from the grand prix you do not get a true reflection of what it is like and what the atmosphere is like day by day. It is a very relaxed environment.'

That certainly cannot be said for this weekend and di Resta's spare room has been booked out for months, the lucky recipient being his father Louis.

'It has turned out to be a bit of a hotel reservation system,' joked the 25-year-old who is never too far away from his Scottish roots despite his new address.

'My dad is down for the moment for the Grand Prix, my mum is down next week. They can come and visit me and enjoy themselves and with Skype and webcams and computers you can have conversation over some dinner. You are just in a different location.'

Most watched Sport videos