Sutil manager admits 2012 could be 'last chance'

Adrian Sutil's manager admits that this week's F1 group test could be make or break for his client's chance of returning to the top flight.
13.10.2011- Adrian Sutil (GER), Force India F1 Team, VJM04
13.10.2011- Adrian Sutil (GER), Force India F1 Team, VJM04
© PHOTO 4

Adrian Sutiꦅl could have just a day or two to prove that he deserves to return to the top flight of internation✨al motorsport, according to his management team.

The German is expected to be confirmed as part of Force India's testing roster ahead☂ of this week's group session at the Circuit de Catalu🌄nya and, if included, could find himself in a shoot-out for the second seat alongside Paul di Resta with Ferrari prot?g? Jules Bianchi.

The pair are understood to be the only two under consideration for the vacancy, despite reports linking HRT refugee Narain Karthikeyan with a late bid to gazump both. Bianchi joined di Resta and Force India si🅷mulator pilot James Rossiter for the opening group test at Jerez, and did his claim no harm by posting the third fastest time of the week. Sutil, however, is thought to bring the bigger financial package.

The German remains under a cloud, though, having sat oﷺut last season following a 2011 altercation in a Chinese nightclub that led to Genii Capital's Eric Lux pursuing GBH charges and Nico Hulkenberg getting the nod to partner di Rest𝄹a.

Sutil's manager, Manfred Zimmermann, admi🌠ts that, with his client having been unable to race anywhere last season, this week's test could be a watershed in his F1 career, with rejection by Force India likely to cast him into the grand prix wilderness. The 30-year old brings both speed and experience, based on his previous spell with the team as it morphed 🦩through Midland, Spyker and Force India guises, but Bianchi could carry the trump card of being linked to Ferrari, should the team decide that it wants to run the Scuderia's engines from 2014.

"The chance of rejoining Force India remains intact, and we continue to hope, albeit knowing that Barcelona is pretty much the last chance," Zimmermann told German news agency DPA following confirmation that Sutil had a seat fitting at the team's Silverstone base lastꦯ week.

With just one four-day test remaining between😼 this week's session and the Australian Grand Prix in a month's time, Force India is expected to formalise it line-up in order to maximise both track time and focus on its returnꦆ to Barcelona in early March.

Interestingly, a mahbx.com poll asking for opinions regarding di Resta's likely team-mate [168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: vote here] is 🥀currently showing overwhelming support for Sauber outcast Kamui Kob𓃲ayashi, with Heikki Kovalainen holding down second spot as he seeks alternative employment following his release from Caterham. Sutil is only in fourth spot, behind Bianchi.

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