Adrian Sutil not worried by lack of F1 success

Sutil was a champion in Japanese Formula 3 in 2006, but has since gone on to notch up 120 grand prix starts without scoring a podium, the most for any driver in the history of the sport.

The German is currently enduring a point-less season with Sauber after leaving Force India at the end of 2013.

He said the longevity of his F1 career and self-satisfaction in his performances in cars not capable of challenging for top results were enough to sustain his self-belief.

"I have everything in my hands and I'm quite happy," Sutil told AUTOSPORT.

"There are several drivers who have not done as many grands prix as me and they have won races.

"What would you say about their situation when they are dropped from Formula 1, probably forever?

"They've won a race and they are in a more unlucky situation than I am? Who knows?

"Sometimes results for me have not been too good, but you have to do your best.

"Sometimes you deliver your best performance when you finish 13th, which might be better than the times I finished fifth for Force India, but nobody will realise this.

"I know, and this is most important. There are drivers who make mistakes and end up on the podium.

"It's a tricky situation in Formula 1 when there is a car involved, which has to be fast as well, so things aren't balanced."

PERFORMANCE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PRAISE

Sutil said the validation of his talents by the watching world were not important to him.

"I do things for myself, I'm not doing it to show the world how impressive I am, it doesn't really matter," he added.

"I do it because I like it. When I do a perfect lap with the car I have, then I am happy. If I don't do it, I'm not happy and will work harder to succeed.

"I do it because it's my passion and it doesn't matter what other people think. I enjoy it even if I am outside the top 10.

"It would be great to be world champion and to win races - this is something that can happen, but then again, maybe not. It's not something that is fully in my hands.

"What is in my hands right now is being able to be a good driver and this is what my goal is: to be a consistent driver who doesn't do mistakes and performs well under any situation."