Lewis Hamilton's former friend Adrian Sutil has reportedly been arrested in an "international raid".
The 42-year-old racing driver was placed in handcuffs as police investigated claims of fraud and embezzlement, according to German media.
Prosecutors in Stuttgart have acknowledged officers searched multiple locations during the operation.
The raids were conducted jointly with the Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police force.
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The German publication Bild first reported the arrest, although officials have released limited information about the specific allegations.
The former Formula 1 competitor has yet to make any public statement regarding the investigation or the charges he potentially faces.
Sutil competed in Formula 1 for seven seasons between 2007 and 2014, beginning his career with the Spyker team.
He later drove for Force India and concluded his time in the sport with Sauber.
Adrian Sutil has reportedly been arrested in an 'international raid'
|GETTY
Throughout his racing career, he achieved several strong results and narrowly missed out on podium finishes.
His fourth-place result at the 2009 Italian Grand Prix represented one of his closest opportunities for a top-three finish.
The German driver delivered one of his finest performances at the 2013 Monaco Grand Prix, finishing fifth.
This result came during his second stint with Force India, following his return to the sport.
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The investigation remains active
|GETTY
Authorities have not disclosed comprehensive details about the nature of the alleged financial misconduct.
The investigation remains active, with additional information expected to surface as the case progresses.
The former driver's early career saw him progress through junior formulae, including winning the Swiss Formula Ford championship in 2002.
He finished behind Lewis Hamilton in the 2005 Formula 3 Euroseries before making his Formula 1 debut two years later.
Hamilton and Sutil were close friends and teammates during their Formula Three Euroseries days
|GETTY
Hamilton and Sutil were close friends and teammates during their Euroseries days.
After Sutil was charged with grievous bodily harm in 2011 and received an 18-month suspended sentence, as well as a fine.
Following the trial, Sutil publicly criticised Hamilton, branding him a "coward" and stating he no longer respected him or wanted to be friends with him.
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