Adrian Sutil closer to second Force India F1 seat

Adrian Sutil is set to be confirmed on Thursday as Force India's second driver for the 2013 Formula 1 season.

Sources close to the German have revealed that Sutil has been given the nod over Jules Bianchi to become Paul di Resta's team-mate in 2013.

The move comes after weeks of speculation over Force India's decision, which had originally been expected to take place back in December.

Sutil's deal secures him a return to F1 after a year out of the sport, when he was in the headlines following a conviction for his part in an assault that took place in a nightclub in Shanghai after the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix.

News of his return will be a disappointment to Bianchi, who had hoped to be promoted from the reserve driver role he had last season.

Bianchi is expected to stay on with the outfit as reserve and will hope that another year of experience will boost his chances of landing a race seat in 2014.

Force India has not made any official comment about its driver plans yet.