Williams' Massa withdraws after falling unwell in Budapest; Di Resta to make first F1 appearance since 2013 Brazilian GP
Tuesday 1 August 2017 21:17, UK
Sky F1's Paul di Resta will race in the Hungarian GP for Williams after Felipe Massa withdrew due to illness.
Di Resta was due to commentate for Sky F1 at the Hungaroring but swapped the commentary box for the cockpit at just 30 minutes' notice.
He will start 19th on the grid on Sunday, two places behind Lance Stroll in the sister Williams car, having improved his times throughout Qualifying in his first run in a 2017 car.
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Massa felt unwell following Friday practice and went to hospital for precautionary tests. He was cleared to take part in Practice Three on Saturday morning but completed just 12 laps before abandoning his running.
Di Resta is Williams' reserve driver and is now set for his first 59th Grand Prix start and his first since the 2013 Brazilian GP, when he was driving for Force India.
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Speaking on Sky F1 at the start of Practice Three, Di Resta said: "I'm ready to pounce if he needs a stand in.
"You're very anxious. Nervous but very excited. You go straight in the deep end. It's a tricky little track. You have to be very committed and confident. You just have to get in the car and do the job possible. There's no pressure out there.
"Even if I drove this morning then I wouldn't get to drive on high fuel and would only be one compound. I hope I would do as good a job or better than anyone else."
After Hungary, the sport will break up for a four-week break with the next race, the Belgian GP, not until the end of August.
"I was not feeling so well, I was feeling dizzy," Massa said in a video released by Williams. "I wanted to be in the car, I wanted to be racing for the team, but I really hope for the best for Paul.
"I need to rest and prepare myself in the best way to come back even stronger in Spa."
This will be the Di Resta's first experience of Williams' 2017 car, although he did drive their 2014 hybrid at the team's 40th anniversary celebrations at Silverstone in June.
The Scot has continued racing in the German Touring Car series for Mercedes since 2014 - and won at the Hungaroring last month.
"It's jumping in at the deep end, it really is," fellow Sky F1 commentator Anthony Davidson said. "It doesn't get any harder than that.
"This is a circuit where a driver can make the difference and that's for a reason - you need to get in the groove around here."
Williams statement in full
'After feeling unwell during practice in Budapest on Friday and Saturday, Felipe Massa will not drive for the remainder of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
'Felipe visited the medical centre and the MH EK Honvedkorhaz hospital for precautionary tests on Friday, after feeling unwell and dizzy during FP2. He was cleared to take part in Saturday's practice session by the FIA medical delegate, but he felt unwell again during FP3 and has made the decision to withdraw from the weekend.
'Williams supports Felipe's decision and the team will work with him to ensure he makes a full recovery, with a view to return to the race track for the Belgian Grand Prix.
'Following this decision, the team's reserve driver Paul di Resta will drive alongside Lance Stroll for the remainder of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.'
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