Adrian Sutil returns to F1 and Force India as Paul di Resta's team-mate for 2013

Force India have reappointed Adrian Sutil as team-mate for Paul di Resta, with the German filling the last remaining driver vacancy for the upcoming 2013 season.

Sutil had been in direct competition for the seat with the Ferrari-backed Jules Bianchi and Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya admitted it had been a "close call" between the two of them. And although overlooked for the race seat, Mallya expressed hope that Bianchi would stay on as their third driver. "The decision over our driver line-up has not been an easy one and we have given it great consideration over the last few months," Mallya explained. "It was a close call, but ultimately we felt that Adrian's experience and historic links to the team gave him the edge, and will provide us with the best possible chance of realising our ambitions for the coming season. If he can rediscover the exceptional form he showed in the second half of 2011, I'm confident that we can pick up where we left off at the end of 2012. "As for Jules Bianchi, he has impressed us enormously with his speed and work ethic, and I'm hopeful we can continue working with him this year to help him develop into a future Grand Prix driver." The new F1 season begins on March 17 in Melbourne, Australia. Statisticians may be interested to know that, with Sutil's appointment conclusively closing the 2013 door on the likes of Heikki Kovalainen and Bruno Senna, only 16 of the 24 drivers who participated in the season-opening Australian GP a year ago will be on the grid for next month's curtain raiser. The 2013 Grid in full
Red Bull: Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
Ferrari: Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.
McLaren: Jenson Button and Sergio Perez.
Lotus: Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez.
Williams: Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas.
Force India: Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil.
Toro Rosso: Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.
Caterham: Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde.
Marussia: Luiz Razia and Jules Bianchi.