Stewart: Ferrari should sign di Resta

Sir Jackie Stewart has said he thinks fellow Scot Paul di Resta would be a good target for Ferrari. The Scuderia is not expected to retain number two driver Felipe Massa in 2013, and there has also been speculation in recent months that the Brazilian could go earlier, if he fails to improve and perform better at the wheel of his F2012. Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya and the start of the 2012 F1 European season, Stewart added that in his view di Resta would be the perfect team-mate for Fernando Alonso. “Paul di Resta would be a very good target for Ferrari,” Stewart confirmed. “Alonso probably has the best toolkit of knowledge and physically is one of the best drivers in the world. "Alonso is almost at his peak and to have a young driver such as Di Resta be an understudy to Alonso is something I'd consider if I was at Ferrari.” Pressed on if he thinks di Resta is a future world champion, however, Stewart added that it is still too soon to say. “It's difficult to know,” replied the three-time F1 world champion. “He has got an enormous amount of talent. I hope Scotland doesn't ask too much too soon from him. “You've got to be with a top-class team in order to win. You can't do that with a second-rate team. “Force India are trying hard to be a first-rate team but they're not there yet. Paul has been leading that team to better results. I think he's got every chance. “We've got a great history of drivers. “For a small country we are punching above our weight and Paul di Resta is the present generation of that.”