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Sutil clear to race in 2013

Force India could be set to revert to the same driver line-up that it had in 2011 © Sutton Images

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• Sutil has Force India seat fitting
  
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• Mallya considers Sutil as Hulkenberg's replacement
  

• Drivers:
• Adrian Sutil

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• Racing Point

Adrian Sutil has confirmed that he is clear to race in every country on the 2013 calendar as he remains in contention for a drive with Force India.

Having been convicted of grievous bodily harm against Eric Lux in late January this year, Sutil was handed a suspended 18-month jail term and €200,000 fine. Gaining access in to certain countries on the calendar - including China where the incident occurred in 2011 - was thought to be a stumbling block to any return to Formula One, but Sutil confirmed to the Race of Champions website that he is able to travel to all grands prix next season.

"We checked of course - me and my management - we checked all the countries and there's no problem for me to travel, so that's why I'm also here in Bangkok without any trouble!" Sutil said. "So all the problems I had last winter are solved, it's a new beginning."

Sutil is one of the favourites for the second Force India seat along with Bruno Senna and Jules Bianchi, but he said there was nothing more he could do other than wait for team principal Vijay Mallya to make a decision. Asked when he expected to know if he had got the drive alongside Paul di Resta, Sutil replied: "Once I've got the signature! The signature is what counts.

"They know who I am, they know how to work with me so in the last five years we've got a lot of experience. There's nothing too much to say, it's all up to Vijay; it's Vijay's decision and hopefully he will make the right one so that I am in the car!

"It's hard, what can I do? Five years I was in this team so they know how good I am, they know my qualities, so I'm not the one who has gone to this team and said "please, please give me the drive", I think they also should come to me and say "Yes, we want you" and that's a good base. So I want to drive for this team but they should also want me as a driver, so that's why I'm quite relaxed. I know how to handle this situation; I did the maximum I could do at the moment and now it's all up to them to decide if I'm in the seat or not."

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