Former Formula 1 driver Adrian Sutil has been arrested following coordinated raids across Monaco, Switzerland, and Germany as part of an expanding international fraud investigation.
German outlet Bild reports that the 42-year-old was taken into custody in Sindelfingen after authorities executed an arrest warrant tied to allegations of large-scale fraud and embezzlement. A spokesperson for the Stuttgart public prosecutor confirmed the cross-border operation, noting that multiple properties were searched in cooperation with the Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police Office. After his arrest, Sutil appeared before the Stuttgart District Court, where a judge formally executed the warrant.
Investigators have not disclosed the specific details of the case, revealing only that Sutil is suspected of “joint fraud in a particularly serious case and joint embezzlement.” The financial scope of the alleged offences and the identities of those involved remain confidential while the inquiry continues.
In recent years, Sutil has been active in the luxury car trading business. He had previously lived in the courtyard of a castle in Solothurn, Switzerland, where he was based for several years before relocating. Thursday’s raids included properties in Monaco and Switzerland believed to be connected to his business activities.
This is not Sutil’s first encounter with the law. In 2012, he was convicted of causing bodily harm after striking Lotus executive Eric Lux with a broken champagne glass during a dispute in a Shanghai nightclub. He received an 18-month suspended sentence, and Lux later said he had forgiven Sutil for the incident.
Sutil’s arrest marks the beginning of what appears to be a major multinational inquiry. Authorities in Germany, Switzerland, and Monaco continue to gather evidence, with further details expected when prosecutors complete the initial phase of the investigation.
Sutil competed in Formula 1 across seven seasons, driving for Spyker, Force India, and Sauber.
