Sutil return a "good feeling"

14/03/2013

Mat Coch writes:

There was no cheer, no great leap of excitement; in fact Force India confirming Adrian Sutil simply gave the German "a good feeling."

Dropped at the end of the 2011 season Sutil spent a year in the Formula One wilderness. Replaced with Nico Hulkenberg the Silverstone based squad saw the former Williams driver as a long-term prospect. Then Hulkenberg unexpectedly opted to join Sauber for 2013, opening the door for a Sutil return.

Yet despite a drawn out selection process which seemed to pitch the 30-year-old against Jules Bianchi in a commercial race to the Force India seat, there was no joyous reaction. "It was nice to be confirmed," Sutil smiled. "I was hoping for that."

The year away from the sport appears to have mellowed the German, who is grateful for the second chance but seemingly not satisfied with simply making up the numbers. "It's just a drive," he claimed, adding that "it doesn't really matter if I'm here with any team in the paddock; I have to perform."

He has set high targets for himself. "It's not that I signed the paper and said okay now it's all done," he explained. "It was a first step in the right direction, but (there is) a long way to go.

"Maybe I'm not so emotional anymore after a few years in Formula One," he added. "I have a lot of things to do now. My target is high. I will be happy and I will be probably be running through the paddock if I win the championship."

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