Di Resta paddles with shark before F1 debut

Within two minutes of Paul di Resta’s first beach visit in Australia, he was within metres of a seven-foot shark.

Paddling in the shallows at St Kilda beach, located near Albert Park, Force India’s rookie ’Friday’ driver pointed out the shark to his teammate Tonio Liuzzi.

"It was quite big, within about six feet of us," the 23-year-old Scot is quoted as saying by The Sun.

"It doesn’t give you much confidence to go in the water!"

The shark encounter, with plenty of photographers and reporters in tow, ensured some national news bulletin coverage around Australia.

Now set to experience the piranhas in the F1 paddock, di Resta - who will be in Adrian Sutil’s VJM03 on Friday morning - admitted that he hopes his new role leads to a full-time race seat in 2011.

"This year is about gaining experience on the tracks so if a drive comes up I am in the scenario without thinking of it too much," he said.