The relationship between Sutil and Hamilton remains complicated

Confirmed as a regular driver by the Sahara Force India team for the 2013 season, Adrian Sutil resumes his place in the discipline abandoned at the end of 2011.

At the time, the German driver had been convicted in an assault and battery case following a brawl in a Shanghai nightclub. Lewis Hamilton was with Sutil that evening, but he refused to testify at the trial. The relationship between the two men had become tense.

Hamilton and Sutil were friends for a long time throughout their careers, but according to the German, they no longer maintain any relationship since that incident: « I am no longer in contact with him. We have no relationship at the moment. I haven’t seen him yet, I haven’t spoken to him, and I don’t know what will happen next. »

However, the Briton points out that he contacted Sutil several times in recent months « I sent him emails some time ago because I had heard he was in talks to return to Formula 1. I told him that I really hoped he would come back because he deserves it. I sent him another email as soon as I found out he had secured a seat, and I congratulated him. »

This incident in Shanghai almost put an end to Adrian Sutil’s career. At the time, Vijay Mallya, head of the Force India team, had decided to sideline his driver and hire his compatriot Nico Hülkenberg for the 2012 season. Hülkenberg joined the ranks of the Sauber team this year, and Sutil is thus offered a chance to revive his career after this forced break. News that Hamilton appreciates at its true value: « I can’t wait to see him again, because it’s been a long time. It’s a great opportunity for him and I wish him the best for the coming year. I told him in my message that I hoped he would prove to everyone that they made the right decision in hiring him. »