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Adrian Sutil stays in F1 with Williams reserve driver role

German to provide back-up to Bottas and Massa

Sauber exile Adrian Sutil has joined Williams as the Grove team’s new reserve driver for 2015.

The experienced German, who had driven for Force India for the majority of his F1 career up to last season, fulfils a role which had been left vacant since Brazilian driver Felipe Nasr moved to replace him in Sauber’s race line-up.

Williams said that Sutil will “spend time in the team’s race simulator to ensure he is fully accustomed to the Williams Mercedes FW37 controls and procedures”, although they stopped short of confirming whether the 32-year-old would drive in any practice or test sessions during the year.

"I'm delighted to have Adrian join our stable of drivers for the 2015 season,” team principal Sir Frank Williams said.

“Adrian brings extensive racing experience, having competed 128 Formula 1 races during his career. Having most recently raced during the 2014 season also gives him excellent knowledge of the current generation of race car and new hybrid power units, which is invaluable for anyone needing to step into the cockpit in 2015.

“The fight for a top Constructors’ Championship position will be intense this season, therefore we have selected a driver with recent race experience and are confident that if the need arose, he would be a solid pair of hands to race the FW37 and assist our 2015 campaign."

What could have been an immediate opportunity for Sutil to make his debut for Williams at this weekend's Malaysia GP has already been ruled out for now after Valtteri Bottas was on Thursday passed fit to resume driving duties after sitting out race day in Melbourne with a back injury.  

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"I'm very proud to be a part of such a famous and great F1 team," Sutil said of his Williams appointment. "To work for Sir Frank Williams and his team means a lot to me. I would like to thank everyone at Williams for their belief in my qualities and the opportunity to work with such a successful and competitive outfit."

After a disappointing single season at Sauber in which they failed to score a single point, Sutil left the team in acrimonious circumstances last November believing he had a contract in place for 2015. It is not yet clear whether his dispute with the Swiss team has been resolved.

Williams already have test driver Susie Wolff and development driver Alex Lynn on their books, with Wolff confirmed as driving in P1 sessions at Barcelona and Silverstone.

Sky Sports F1 will show every session from the Malaysia Grand Prix weekend live and available on the move with Sky Go. The race starts at 8am on Sunday, with comprehensive build-up underway from 6:30am

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