Paul di Resta and Sebastian Vettel were F3 team-mates in 2006 © Sutton Images Enlarge

Sebastian Vettel wants to see his former F3 rival and team-mate Paul di Resta on the Formula One grid next year.

DTM champion di Resta won the 2006 F3 Euroseries by 11 points from Vettel when they were both with the French ASM team, but did not have the same level of financial backing as his team-mate. The Scot is now linked to a drive with Force India, where he has been a Friday test driver this year, and at a recent Mercedes DTM award ceremony Vettel appeared by video link to wish him good luck.

"I hope to see you in Formula One next year," said the recently-crowned F1 champion. "Hopefully it will not be as tight as it was in F3!"

However, it is not yet clear where di Resta would fit in at Force India as Tonio Liuzzi has a contract for next year and Adrian Sutil said again this week that he has agreed a deal to stay for 2011.

"We have reached an agreement," Sutil told Eurosport. "The signature is a mere formality, which will happen. The drivers who do not have a contract yet want to join the team because it is the best team with an open place."