Adrian Sutil

Date of birth: 11 January 1980, Graefeling, Germany

Adrian Sutil is one of the most consistent drivers in Formula 1 and for 2013 he returns to Sahara Force India following five consecutive seasons with the Silverstone-based team between 2007 and 2011. Despite his talent behind the wheel, until his early teenage years Adrian was destined for a career in music rather than motor racing. His father, Jorge, who had migrated from Uruguay to Germany in his late 20s, played the violin in the Müncher Philharmonie for many years and his mother, Monika, was also a talented musician.

The young Adrian learnt to play piano to concert pianist standard. Adrian’s first contact with motorsport was when his brother took him to a karting track aged just 14. He never looked back to music and, instead, resolved to get to the pinnacle of the sport; Formula One. In his first season in single-seater motorsport in 2002, he won the Formula Ford Swiss championship with 12 pole positions and 12 wins in 12 races. In 2004 he graduated to the Formula 3 Euroseries, securing four podiums in his maiden season. In 2005 Adrian moved to the ASM team, finishing second in the championship to 2008 F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, with 11 podiums in 18 races. He also participated in three A1GP races for A1 Team Germany, but in 2006 moved across to the Far East to compete in the Japanese F3 championship.

With strong performances throughout the year, Adrian secured his first international title with five wins, which paved the way to his first contact with F1 later that year.