As we on Vital F1 reported on Monday, Force India are set to confirm their driver line-up for the 2013 season imminently.
However just like most things in Formula One, it appears that the news of the identity of Paul Di Resta’s team-mate has been leaked.
Reports throughout the paddock suggest that Adrian Sutil has won the race between him and Jules Bianchi to replace Nico Hulkenburg who moved to Sauber.
30-year-old German Sutil has had a long association with Force India, having previously been with the team between 2006 and 2012.
He lost his seat to Nico Hulkenberg for last season, a move that made sense at the time as Hulkenburg was an upcoming young driver who had been impressing everyone, whilst Sutil was grabbing more headlines off the track than on it after he attacked Lotus team co-owner Eric Lux with a champagne glass during a fight in a Shanghai nightclub following the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix.
The German driver was later found guilty of bodily harm and was given an 18-month suspended sentence and fined 200,000 euros.
But his test last week appeared to signify his return to Formula One.
‘I’ve spent six years with this team including the year as a test driver. They gave me the chance to come into F1 in 2007 and they gave me the chance to come back for this test. I’m very thankful for this possibility and I just wish that it goes on – and on and on.’ Sutil told formula1.com last week.
It would seem he now has his wish.
Bianchi is likely to stay as Force India’s reserve team driver and must be in a decent position to secure a race seat in 2014.
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