Adrian Sutil’s manager has denied his driver is in talks with Williams over a potential 2012 move, insisting the German’s first preference is to remain at Force India.
With Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello’s contract at Williams expiring at the end of the year and his future at the team yet to be resolved, Sutil has been one of several drivers linked to the drive, particularly as he has personal sponsorship backing.
Speculation in recent days has suggested that the 28-year-old recently visited the team’s Grove headquarters but speaking to the Daily Mail, Sutil’s manager Manfred Zimmermann distanced his driver from talk of a switch.
“Our first choice for 2012 is Force India," Zimmermann told the newspaper.
“At this time there is no action talking to other teams.”
Sutil joined what is now Force India when it was known as Midland as a test driver in 2006, before graduating to a race seat under Spyker ownership the following year, and has been a mainstay at the Silverstone-based outfit since they were taken over by Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya and rebranded in 2008.
However, neither he nor rookie team-mate Paul di Resta have yet been confirmed for next season with Mallya having said he will name his 2012 line-up towards the end of the year, when the highly-rated Nico Hulkenberg is also likely to be under consideration after spending this year as the team’s third driver
Zimmermann also insisted that Sutil was a high enough calibre of driver not to have to bring additional sponsorship to a team to secure a drive.
He added that his personal backers Medion wouldn’t in any case automatically become a sponsor of a team the German was driving for.
“There is no need to bring sponsors or money to a team for Adrian,” he said.
“Last year and this year, he is fighting for a top-10 result in the world championship.
“Medion make their decision after we have signed a contract.
'If there is a nice offer they become a sponsor of the team, if not, they will no.”
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