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F1: Sutil Stuns Paddock With Comeback
Force India driver makes impressive re-start to career...
SPEED Staff / GMM  |  Posted March 18, 2013   GMM Newswire
Force India driver Adrian Sutil of Germany looks out from the cockpit of his car in Melbourne on March 14, 2013, ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix on March 17. (Photo: Getty Images)
Adrian Sutil stunned the F1 paddock on Sunday by looking so competitive on his return to the sport after a season away.

Written off by some after his 2011 assault conviction, the German is back with Force India this season and in Melbourne even led some laps -- a first in his career.

"Sutil's performance was more convincing than anything his fellow countryman Michael Schumacher produced in (the last) three years," Independent newspaper correspondent David Tremayne wrote.

Sutil ultimately finished seventh in Melbourne as his tire strategy played out, but the 30-year-old told Auto Motor und Sport: "It is surprising how well it went.

"When I saw P1 on the pit board, it was quite a feeling."

Deputy team boss Bob Fernley, however, insists he was not overly surprised.

"During the testing, if you had analyzed it, you could see the promise," he is quoted as saying.

First to seventh might then sound disappointing, but Sutil could not stop smiling.

"Considering that three weeks ago I didn't even have a seat and was only able to test for three days in Barcelona, it could hardly have gone better," he said.
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