Want to better my 2011 performance: Force India's Adrian Sutil

Mumbai: Back in Formula One action after a 14-month break, Sahara Force India driver Adrian Sutil wants to make the 2013 season his best-ever career wise, by bettering the ninth-place finish he had achieved with the same team in 2011. “My aims are quite high. My personal goal is to be better than in 2011 when I finished ninth. My mind is set for some good performance and I am ready for podium (finish) and I want to achieve that,” said the 30-year-old driver, at a media interaction, here today. “In first races there are always chances. We have to be prepared to take them. It’s important to be consistent from the beginning to the end of the season,” said the German driver, who got back into F1 circuit following the move to Sauber from Force India by his countryman Nico Hulkenberg. [caption id=“attachment_653685” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Adrian Sutil. AFP[/caption] The F1 season commences with the Australian GP at Melbourne on March 17. Sutil, who has been with Force India from 2008 till his break last year, did not think it was a difficult task for someone like him to make a comeback into the glamorous sport. “It depends on how young you are. It’s difficult to come back if you are at the end of your career. I am still young and I think I have 8-10 years more in Formula One. “The example is (2007 world champion) Kimi Raikonnen (Finland) who was off for two years and was the most consistent driver last year. Everything is possible if you have prepared well and are mentally strong.” Conceding that Force India was the last in his line of teams to attempt a comeback, the German thanked the Formula One outfit’s boss Vijay Mallya for providing him another chance to prove himself. “I was trying to get into several teams and had my priorities. But when you are out of the squad it’s always difficult to come back, to get a chance somewhere. Probably Force India was the last I was thinking about. “Very nice and happy to be back. Had some very good results in 2011. I have to thank Vijay for giving me a second chance,” said Sutil. “It became interesting in October when Nico Hulkenberg moved to Sauber and I was thinking why not, I don’t have hard feelings towards anyone in the team and they have always been nice and generous,” the German driver added. Sutil sounded pleased with the balance of the car he will be driving, after the practice session in Barcelona. “It’s a better car. I am quite pleased with the balance. Almost everywhere (there is) unusual balance, and (it produced) quick lap time. I expect us (he and Paul di Resta) to be quite strong in the first two races. “I have a big target. Everything has to step up again. Sixth place (for Force India) in Constructors Championship (in 2011) is not good enough. Everyone is keyed up,” said Sutil. The German had spent time away from the circuit by doing what he could not do from the age of 14. “I was leading my normal life. And doing those things which I couldn’t do in the last five years. Been in racing since I was 13-14 years old. I feel more relaxed now and full of energy after spending time with my family and girlfriend. To live a normal life is very nice.” “I know Paul quite well. I did two seasons with him – one with him as test driver and the other as race driver (in 2011). He is a strong driver. We don’t have any issues (among us). Of course everyone wants to beat each other, which is a good thing. If we push each other in the right direction it would be nice,” he said about teammate di Resta. He brushed aside concerns he might have had over the financial problems faced by Mallya with his grounded Kingfisher Airlines. “You hear some bad news, (though) I know the team is not linked to these problems. It is independent and is a different structure. Vijay is behind it. I just read what came in the newspapers. I had no idea what was the truth. It was nice the team was confirmed over the last two weeks. “No one really knew what is going to happen at Force India. (But) I was sure he will manage the situations again, he likes the sport and won’t give up too early. We are on the right way, drivers are ready to go,” he signed off. PTI