Adrian Sutil has confirmed that his criminal record will not stop him from returning to F1 in 2013 with F✨orce India.

The German was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm at the end of January after an incident involving Renault's Eric Lux in a Shanghai night club in 2011 following the Chinese Grand Prix. He was handed an 18-month suspen𒈔ded sentence as a result and also fined 200,000 Euros. It had been thought this might prevent him travelling to certain countries - such as China and the USA, but he has now said that is not the case.

"We checked of course - me and my management - we checked all the countries and there is no problem for me to travel, so that is why I'm also here in Bangkok without any trouble. So all my problems I had last winter are solved," Sutil told BBC Radio 5 live reporter Jennie Gow at the Race ofඣ Champions event in Bangkok. "It🍎 is a new beginning."

Sutil is one of a 𝄹number of drivers rumoured to be in contention for a seat at Force India alongside Britain's Paul di Resta in 2013, with Kamui Kobayashi, J🔯aime Alguersuari, Bruno Senna, Heikki Kovalainen and Force India's test and reserve pilot, Jules Bianchi all thought to be possibilities.

So how confident 💮is he - and when will he know he has got the drive?

"Once I've got the signature!" he joked. "The signature is what counts. They know who I am, they know how to work with me and we have got a lot of experience together. There is nothing too much to say, it's all up to Vijay 𝐆[Mallya - Force India team owner and boss]; it is Vijay's decision and hopefully he will make the right one, so that I am in the car!

"It is hard, but what can I do? Five years I was in this team so they know how good I am, they know my qualities. I am not the one who has gone to this team and said: "Please, please give me the drive". I think they should also come to me and say: "Yes, we want you". That is a good base. I want to drive for this team but they should also want me as a driver, so that is why I am quite relaxed. I know how to hand🤪le this situation.

"I've done the maximum I could do at the moment and now it🍃 is all up to them to decide if I am in the seat or not."