247 replies to this topic

[BernieEc]

Sport Bild a German formula 1 news website is reporting that Adrian Sutil has been chosen as the second driver for Force India.
Although no official announcement has been made, the website reports that Sutil who was quicker than regular driver Paul Di Resta and test driver Jules bianchi at the barcleona test last week, was in action at the mclaren simulator this week ahead of this week’s test.
Force India have a deal with Mclaren which allows them use of their simulator.
Money was said to play a major role in who got this seat, Force India currently buy Mercedes engines and sport bild reports that Ferrari offered to reduce their engine swap in order to allow force india to get Jules Bianchi in a seat and switch to Ferrari power.

The story is not yet confirmed.

Am hoping the Mods think this info is relevant enough to start the thread although based on a rumour as reported by Sportsbild


http://www.gptoday.c...ns_Force_India/

Edited to include sportsbild article Sportsbild Link

Edited by BernieEc, 27 February 2013 - 13:07.

[Sin]

It's bild... they said aliens would come soon.... I wont believe them until I hear it from another more believable source

http://www.handelsbl...ia/7847774.html

this one says sportbild is wrong and there is no agreement yet

Edited by Sin, 27 February 2013 - 13:15.

[seahawk]

SportBild ist not as bad as Bild. Not AMuS level but usually very well connected. They were the first to anounce the return of MSC with Merc. for example.

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Well it's hardly a surprise that Sutil was quicker than Bianchi......Sutil drove on an all dry day, Bianchi drove on what was (from memory) a mainly damp/wet day.

[dhill39]

I think it's a good move by the team,plus he will be quicker than Paul.

[ApexMouse]

Well it's hardly a surprise that Sutil was quicker than Bianchi......Sutil drove on an all dry day, Bianchi drove on what was (from memory) a mainly damp/wet day.

I imagine there's someone in force India somewhere that might take that into account. They also have sutil dry test day versus bianchi's FP's. Bianchi deserves a top-flight shot though, As do Bird and Frijns.

[William Hunt]

I do like Sutil but I really would prefer to see Bianchi get a chance, imho he has morel long term potential and he's extremely talented.

[slmk]

SportBild ist not as bad as Bild. Not AMuS level but usually very well connected. They were the first to anounce the return of MSC with Merc. for example.

I thought it was Eddie Jordan.

[NotSoSilentBob]

Eddie predicted the Hamilton switch, not MS's return.

[gm914]

Eddie predicted the Hamilton switch, not MS's return.

No I think Eddie was first on the scene with MSC's return too.

[300KPh]

it is the most reasonable choice , Sutil is faster than both of them

[lbennie]

Eddie predicted the Hamilton switch, not MS's return.

Eddie got the scoop on both

[dau]

Saward writes that he heard both Sutil and Bianchi have been sent tickets to go to Melbourne. Oh the drama. Love it.

http://joesaward.wor...nd-force-india/

[Sin]

Saward writes that he heard both Sutil and Bianchi have been sent tickets to go to Melbourne. Oh the drama. Love it.

http://joesaward.wor...nd-force-india/

maybe they sent both a rapier and an armor too and they have to fight it out.....

Edited by Sin, 27 February 2013 - 15:32.

[xAtarigeekx]

Sky Sports F1 ‏@SkySportsF1
Sky Sports News report Adrian Sutil's agent has confirmed that Adrian will partner Paul di Resta in 2013 #skyf1

[Les]

Saward writes that he heard both Sutil and Bianchi have been sent tickets to go to Melbourne. Oh the drama. Love it.

http://joesaward.wor...nd-force-india/

The winner of the drive should be revealed X Factor style 5 minutes before qualifying in Oz. 'And the winner of the second Force India seat in 2013 is...'.

Edited by Les, 27 February 2013 - 15:36.

[F.M.]

Saward writes that he heard both Sutil and Bianchi have been sent tickets to go to Melbourne. Oh the drama. Love it.

http://joesaward.wor...nd-force-india/

Isn't it normal that Bianchi would travel to Melbourne, being the reserve driver?

Edited by F.M., 27 February 2013 - 15:44.

[Rosberg]

The winner of the drive should be revealed X Factor style 5 minutes before qualifying in Oz. 'And the winner of the second Force India seat in 2013 is...'.

If Bianchi loses, Ferrari will say its a fix

[Sin]

If Bianchi loses, Ferrari will say its a fix

well if Mercedes is backing Sutil like the first text says and went down with the prize, supposedly having the better 2014 engine anyway, I dont know why they wouldnt choose it

[Rosberg]

well if Mercedes is backing Sutil like the first text says and went down with the prize, supposedly having the better 2014 engine anyway, I dont know why they wouldnt choose it

I didn't know Sutil was even part of Mercedes, probably because he's German..

Also, if he is part of Mercedes, would that mean the Mercedes engines would stay with Force India in 2014?

[Owen]

I didn't know Sutil was even part of Mercedes, probably because he's German..

Also, if he is part of Mercedes, would that mean the Mercedes engines would stay with Force India in 2014?

I can't see them switching to Ferrari if Sutil gets the gig!

[pacificquay]

Bianchi's manager Nicolas Todt says Sutil has the drive

[Rosberg]

Bianchi's manager Nicolas Todt says Sutil has the drive

I think the French media was also saying Sutil has the drive too along with the German media.

[Sin]

Since Sutils manager is denying that any decision has been made for Sutil... and Bianchis manager says the decision has been made... I guess they both dont know and.... I bet... Force India will announce somebody else soon:



and yeah I'm kidding

Edited by Sin, 27 February 2013 - 16:07.

[Rosberg]

What if they had ten drivers lined up in a row in front of the Force India garage and do an auction?

[Disgrace]

Would be the right choice if true.

[Sin]

agree on the fact that choosing Sutil would be right

[Jackmancer]

Apparently Nicolas Todt, Bianchi's manager, has already said it's Sutil. Which is a bit of a joke, since Bianchi was groomed as their testdriver for two years.

[MaxisOne]

Hope Sutil gets the drive.

Very happy he gets a second chance if he does.

[Andrew Hope]

dem soft hands.

Good news if true. If Ferrari want Bianchi they can damn well give him the 2nd seat in the big team or buy a farm team like Red Bull.

[Disgrace]

Apparently Nicolas Todt, Bianchi's manager, has already said it's Sutil. Which is a bit of a joke, since Bianchi was groomed as their testdriver for two years.

Well he's only had a couple of free practice runs. I think another season of preparation would do him good, particularly as he has a recent crash-prone record. It would be a waste to see him promoted a year early if he has the money to make a 2014 debut.

[Kvothe]

Would be the right choice if true.

agree on the fact that choosing Sutil would be right

Completely agree

[Ramses1348]

Looks like KR's run of races without a DNF won't last much longer

[drunkenmaster]

Apparently Nicolas Todt, Bianchi's manager, has already said it's Sutil. Which is a bit of a joke, since Bianchi was groomed as their testdriver for two years.

Well, Sutil has soundly beaten di Resta, and di Resta was again beaten by Hülkenberg last season. So it would've been a bit of a joke to keep di Resta but to turn away Sutil.

If di Resta is beaten again by Sutil this season, then the best thing would be to get rid of him and give Bianchi the second car for 2014.

[Petroltorque]

I do like Sutil but I really would prefer to see Bianchi get a chance, imho he has morel long term potential and he's extremely talented.

Bianchi is wild and erratic. He reminds me of a young Massa. It's ironic that he's also managed by Nicolas Todt. FI need a driver who will consistently bring home points and not bin it at the first opportunity, they are in effect racing for their budget. In any event if Maranello was sure about Bianch he'd be driving for them.

[dau]

Isn't it normal that Bianchi would travel to Melbourne, being the reserve driver?

Guess so, but Bianchi hasn't been announced as this year's reserve driver yet either.

Looks like they finally decided though.

[InSearchOfThe]

Looks like KR's run of races without a DNF won't last much longer

You'd think he'd want to run into Hamilton not Raikkonen.


You could also see Bianchi replace Di Resta if Farce India has more money problems halfway through the season and switches to Ferrari in '14. What a joke.....

[l8apex]

This is good news.

Give Bianchi the 2nd seat for 2014 after Di Resta is again beaten by Sutil.

[OvDrone]

I don't get it why so many dudes rate Sutil so damn high. I'm all for second chances but Sutil is just meh. I'd rather have dudes like Bianchi, Alguersuari, Kobayashi, Glock, Bird and Frijins in F1 than Sutil, Di Resta, Razia and Chilton.

Anyways it'll be fun watching Adrian making Mr. Uncharisma look below average. Hope Jules will be on the grid for 2014.

[Fastcake]

I wouldn't be surprised if they still didn't have a second driver at the end of the year.

[F1EC]

Maybe Bianchi will fill in for Sutil if he's blocked from entering any countries (Canada is a case in point) due to his conviction.

[Sin]

Maybe Bianchi will fill in for Sutil if he's blocked from entering any countries (Canada is a case in point) due to his conviction.

Sutil checked already if he is able to travel into all countries... and there doesn't seem to be a problem

[F1EC]

Sutil checked already if he is able to travel into all countries... and there doesn't seem to be a problem

Plenty of debate about that on other websites. It's unclear how he'll get past the Canadian immigration rules.

[lambylamby]

Plenty of debate about that on other websites. It's unclear how he'll get past the Canadian immigration rules.

He'll just show his picture of hugging a dolphin off, that photo will get him anywhere.

edit: I personally like sutil as a driver. Did a lot with a little, and better than Di take-a-Rest...............a.

Edited by lambylamby, 27 February 2013 - 19:36.

[TheUltimateWorrier]

The only good news about this is that Di Resta gets to avenge 2011 . Not sure why people say Sutil 'soundly beat' Di Resta. It took Sutil till the final race of 2011 to match Di Resta's best finish of fifth and Di Resta had some bizarre strategies that year. Hulkenberg 'soundly beat' Di Resta last year, imo. Sutil should've done more in 2011.

[dau]

Plenty of debate about that on other websites. It's unclear how he'll get past the Canadian immigration rules.

Temporary Resident Permit?

[drunkenmaster]

Not sure why people say Sutil 'soundly beat' Di Resta.

Points 2011
Sutil: 42
di Resta: 27

Ranking 2011
Sutil: 9th
di Resta: 13th

In my book that's a sound beating.;)

It took Sutil till the final race of 2011 to match Di Resta's best finish of fifth

Where did you get this from?

Di Resta's best finish was a sixth position in Singapore. Sutil finished two times in 6th: Germany and Brazil

[MortenF1]

A wise, and surely the correct decision.
That means a good, solid and proven driver pairing for Force India again.

[TheUltimateWorrier]

Still this isn't confirmed, so hopefully this could be a negotiation tactic to force Ferrari to up the ante.

Points 2011
Sutil: 42
di Resta: 27

Ranking 2011
Sutil: 9th
di Resta: 13th

In my book that's a sound beating.;)

Points only tell half the story ;) . Poor strategies for Di Resta didn't help, but when Sutil out qualified him 10 - 9, and outraced 11 - 6, is hardly soundly beating a rookie. We never got the chance to see how much Di Resta improved last year against Sutil, as Hulkenberg was something special.

Where did you get this from?

Di Resta's best finish was a sixth position in Singapore. Sutil finished two times in 6th: Germany and Brazil

My mistake, confused results. Point remains though, rookie Di Resta matched Sutil's best finish.

Edited by TheUltimateWorrier, 27 February 2013 - 20:26.

[Sin]

My mistake, confused results. Point remains though, rookie Di Resta matched Sutil's best finish.

which proves that Di Resta is good but doesn't prove that Sutil would be bad...

Sutil is a good driver...