London - Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley has insisted that the decision to axe race car driver Adrian Sutil had nothing to do with his Shanghai nightclub incident.
Fernley defended Sutil on the day Force India unveiled their new car for the forthcoming Formula One campaign at Silverstone.
Despite his best season with the team last year, scoring 42 points to help Force India to their highest position in the constructors' championship of sixth, Sutil was dropped in favour of fellow German Nico Hulkenberg.
Sutil was this week handed an 18-month suspended sentence after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Eric Lux, the chief executive of Lotus owners Genii Capital, in a nightclub in Shanghai following last year's Chinese Grand Prix in April.
Asked by Press Association Sport about Sutil's departure, The Mirror quoted Fernley, as saying: "It was a very difficult decision. Adrian did have an exceptional season, he is an extremely talented driver, and as importantly an extremely nice person who fitted in well with the team.”
He added: "But we had to look at where we felt our long-term strengths lay. Adrian had been with us for a number of years, and we genuinely believed the future with us was with Paul (Di Resta) and Nico.”
Sutil further said: "We looked at it very carefully. It wasn't something we rushed into, but we had very clear ideas as to where we wanted to build the team for the future.”
He added: "It was a close decision, and we felt it was time for Adrian to gain experience outside of Force India.”
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