Former F1 driver arrested in international sting operation
A controversial former F1 driver has been arrested and remains in custody following an international raid by police.
Former Formula 1 driver Adrian Sutil has reportedly been arrested in an “international raid” on suspicion of fraud and embezzlement.
The 42-year-old ex-Sauber star was handcuffed by German police as local authorities launched a probe into the alleged crimes, German news outlet Bild reported.
Stuttgart prosecutors confirmed several properties were raided in collaboration with Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police.
Further details are yet to be released and the former racecar driver has not publicly commented on the allegations.
It was reported Sutil remains in police custody, The Sun reports.
Sutil raced for seven years in F1 for Spyker, Force India and Sauber – with one of his best-ever finishes coming in the Monaco Grand Prix in 2013, where he placed fifth.
The driver is no stranger to controversy – and has made headlines in the past for several off-the-track matters.
In 2011, Sutil was involved in an incident which unfolded at a Shanghai nightclub.
A Lotus team executive, Eric Lux, was injured with a champagne glass.
Sutil was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and was handed an 18-month suspended sentence with a fine.
The case saw him leave Formula 1, but he made a comeback to the sport with Force India in 2013.
The Sun also reported in 2020 how a $2 million McLaren supercar, reportedly owned by Sutil, was wrecked in Monaco.
Pictures on social media circulated of the nasty smash, with the orange Senna LM model mangled against a lamp post.
The accident was said to occur just outside of Monaco with German racer Sutil reportedly sat next to the car.
The McLaren Senna LM supercar was estimated to have cost around £1,248,000.
Only 24 were made, with just six sold in the marque’s trademark papaya orange.
Sutil’s representatives were contacted for comment.
Sutil’s racing career started when he was just 14-years-old and the youngster showed promise at karting.
He rapidly rose up the ranks and made his debut in the Swiss Formula Ford series in 2002, where he won the championship title.
The impressive win saw him go on to compete in Formula Masters Austria and then the Formula BMW ADAC series in 2003.
He finished as runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in 2005 in the Formula 3 Euroseries.
In 2007, Sutil made his Formula One debut with the Spyker team.
He ultimately retired after performing with Sauber in 2014.
— This story originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission
Originally published as Former F1 driver arrested in international sting operation
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