F1: Paul Di Resta set to replace Adrian Sutil in 2009 - rumour

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From GMMMere days after team co-owner Vijay Mallya said Force India will retain its current drivers for 2009, Adrian Sutil's seat now appears in doubt.The Herald, a major Scottish national broadsheet newspaper, reports that local driver Paul di Resta "has been told" that he is in the running for the drive. Di Resta , who recently made his formula one test debut with McLaren, is now set for two more days of running with the Mercedes-powered team early this week.The 22-year-old, who races with Mercedes' premier effort in the German touring car series DTM, is reportedly a potential element of a new technical alliance between McLaren and Force India.The Herald explained that "if he performs well" on Monday and Tuesday, di Resta "can book a place" in next season's Force India lineup.The newspaper reports that the development is the result of talks between McLaren boss Ron Dennis and Mercedes' Norbert Haug.None of the involved parties would comment, but Dennis said last week: "There is the possibility of Paul being integrated into formula one, not necessarily with McLaren at this stage, but he certainly has the potential to succeed in F1." photo: DTM