Adrian Sutil handed suspended sentence

Former Force India driver Adrian Sutil has been given an 18-month suspended sentence after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm.

Sutil was also fined €200,000 (£167,000) by Munich district court judge Christiane Thiemann following an incident in a nightclub in Shanghai after last year's Chinese Grand Prix.

The 29-year-old was found guilty of injuring Eric Lux, chief executive of Lotus team owners Genii Capital, by striking him with a champagne glass and causing a wound in his neck which required 24 stitches.

Court spokeswoman Ingrid Kaps told Press Association Sport: "Mr Sutil was given one year and six months on probation. He was also fined €200,000 which goes to charities of the court's choosing."

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton had initially been scheduled to appear as a witness, but was excused due to team duties.

With the suspended sentence now hanging over Sutil, his career is in serious doubt, with Force India opting not to renew his contract at the end of last season and replacing him with reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg for the forthcoming campaign.

AP