After quite a difficult start in Formula 1, Adrian Sutil has made a name for himself on the grid with some impressive performances. With Force India getting stronger, can he start challenging for wins? Edd Straw finds out

On October 2 2004, Adrian Sutil was just one of a plethora German single-seater drivers hoping to follow in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher. He had made little impression during his first season in the F3 Euro Series driving for Colin Kolles's team, save for an unlikely pole position in damp conditions at Adria and was an unobtrusive 16th in the championship heading to the Hockenheim finale.

Then former Renault junior Eric Salignon suffered a road car crash. Promoted to the crack ASM team (now ART Grand Prix), Sutil stunned the paddock with a shock pole position. Since then, the German has made a habit of defying expectations to become a well-established Formula 1 driver.

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