• Massa forced to withdraw from the race because of illness • Di Resta will start 19th on grid after early qualifying exit

The British driver Paul di Resta will replace Felipe Massa in the Williams for the Hungarian Grand Prix after the Brazilian had to withdraw because of sickness. It marks a return to Formula One for the Williams reserve driver, whose last race was for Force India in Brazil in 2013.

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Di Resta finished 19th in qualifying with a time of 1:19.868, exiting in Q1 but placing ahead of Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson and finishing seven-tenths of a second behind his team-mate Lance Stroll, who will start in 17th place.

Massa had been sick and dizzy after practice on Friday and was examined at the Hungaroring’s medical centre before being further checked at a hospital in Budapest. He was declared fit and felt better on Saturday morning. He took part in the final practice but did not complete the session after a relapse.

Di Resta had been standing in for Martin Brundle – who is also unwell – as a commentator for Sky TV this weekend but was made ready by Williams to drive in qualifying. The team opted on Saturday morning to support Massa’s decision to sit out the event.

The statement from Williams said: “After feeling unwell during practice in Budapest on Friday and Saturday Felipe Massa will not drive for the remainder of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.

“Felipe visited the medical centre and the MH EK Honvedkorhaz hospital for precautionary tests on Friday, after feeling unwell and dizzy during FP2. He was cleared to take part in Saturday’s practice session by the FIA medical delegate but he felt unwell again during FP3 and has made the decision to withdraw from the weekend.

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“Williams supports Felipe’s decision and the team will work with him to ensure he makes a full recovery, with a view to return to the race track for the Belgian Grand Prix.”

The 31-year-old Paul di Resta, who currently races in touring cars, made 58 starts for Force India between 2011 and 2013 with his best finish being a fourth in Bahrain in 2013 and fourth in Singapore in 2012.