Di Resta looking to seal deal for 2013

Paul di Resta is eager to have closure with regards to his Formula 1 drive for next year, but insists that the process is on hold until after the Hungarian Grand Prix. Following next weekend’s race in Budapest, the sport will move into a five-week holiday period.

The Scot entered F1 at the start of last year, having won the previous season’s DTM title. He is hotly tipped for a move to the Mercedes works team alongside Nico Rosberg, but only should Michael Schumacher elect to retire at the end of the ongoing campaign.

“There is a lot of talk at the moment and, to be honest, it’s quite confusing about what is going on," the Force India driver explained in the Hockenheim paddock on Thursday. “Even Lewis (Hamilton) doesn’t know for sure, so I don’t think anybody has a clear indication about who is going where next year."

At present, di Resta has no manager after parting company with Anthony Hamilton. Some critics believe this could have related to son Lewis’ own contract negotiations.

“At the moment there are still two weekends to go (until the F1 summer break)," he continues. “It will be after that time that you should start to think about putting yourself in the right places, making sure you know what you’re doing. It’s a crucial decision."

A Mercedes move would mark the first time a British driver had raced for the silver arrows since England’s Stirling Moss in 1955. The latest F1 contract talk relates to Mark Webber, who has sealed a further one-year deal with Red Bull for next year.