F1
The ex-Force India driver eyes a return to the F1 paddock for 2013.
Adrian Sutil believes he could still be selected as Force India’s second driver – alongside Britain’s Paul di Resta – for the 2013 Formula One season.
The German driver, who was dropped by Force India amid controversial circumstances before the start of the 2012 season, says that he’s been involved in discussions with the team’s senior management with the aim of him securing a drive with the team for 2013.
“We’re close,” said Sutil. “But we need a signature and that’s why I can’t really say if it’s going to happen or not. It’s Vijay [Mallya’s] decision.”
The second Force India seat for 2013 is the most hotly contested drive in Formula One, with Force India test driver Jules Bianchi, Antonio Liuzzi (another former Force India man) and Kamui Kobayashi all rumoured to be vying with Sutil to fill the vacancy left by Nico Hulkenberg, who will drive for Sauber next year.
“It’s up in the air at the moment, but with a good chance,” said Sutil. “I’m always realistic, but I see good chances.”
In April 2011, Sutil was alleged to have been involved in an incident in a Shanghai nightclub with Lotus F1 co-owner Eric Lux, with Lux claiming that Sutil had committed grievous bodily harm against him.
Sutil released a statement at the time claiming that he had “unintentionally injured another guest” at a party to celebrate Lewis Hamilton’s victory at the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix, and that he had “unreservedly apologised for this.”
The German driver saw out the rest of the 2011 season with Force India before standing trial at a Munich court in January of this year, where he received an eighteen-month suspended sentence for his part in the incident and was ordered to pay a fine of €200,000.
Sutil was subsequently replaced at Force India for the 2012 season by Nico Hulkenberg.
Should Sutil fail to secure the Force India seat for 2013, the German driver has said that he will consider other options, with DTM and the World Endurance Championship, two categories popular with ex-Formula One drivers, both possible options: “I have to see what’s good for me and what the possibilities are," he said. “There are other interesting race categories [apart from] Formula One.
“Maybe I’ll do something completely different, so let’s see,” he added. “I really like rallying but I wouldn’t probably do it. [That would be] a really fresh beginning…DTM, World Endurance Championship, this is maybe an option. But also there, to get a decent drive, is always difficult, so I have to work for this.”
Despite his off-track problems, Sutil’s abilities behind the wheel have never been in doubt, with the German winning the Japanese Formula Three championship in 2006 before graduating to F1 the following year with the Dutch-owned Spyker team, which became Force India a year later.
Sutil impressed during his four seasons with the team, scoring a multitude of points finishes before being dropped in favour of Hulkenberg.
“They [Force India] have known me for a long time,” said Sutil. “So there’s not so much to talk about.
“I have to hope and wait a little bit, but hopefully I will know before Christmas if [the Force India drive] is possible.”
