Sutil secures F1 return with Force India - report

Adrian Sutil’s manager has denied reports on Wednesday that the 30-year-old has definitely secured his return to formula one.

The German magazine Sport Bild said Sutil, the long-time Force India driver who sat out 2012 in the wake of the Eric Lux assault affair, has beaten hot contender Jules Bianchi to become Paul di Resta’s new teammate.

If confirmed, the news would indicate that the Silverstone based team is staying with its existing engine supplier Mercedes for 2014, given Frenchman Bianchi’s close ties to Ferrari.

"Sutil was in the McLaren simulator yesterday," read the Sport Bild report. "As of Thursday, he will be in action for the last pre-season test in Barcelona.

"On 17 March in Australia, he will race a grand prix for the first time since Brazil 2011," added the report by Bianca Garloff and Ralf Bach.

Sutil’s manager Manfred Zimmermann denied the report.

"Nothing has been finalised yet," he is quoted by the German news agency SID.

"We are still hoping and waiting for a confirmation."