16/03/2012
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
After a year away, Nico Hulkenberg is glad to be back on the Formula One grid. The German spent last season as reserve driver for Force India, taking part in a number of Friday morning sessions, before being announced as Adrian Sutil's replacement in December.
"It's what I wanted all last year, now I'm back so it's obviously all very positive and happy for me," said the German. "It has been 16 months since my last Formula One race, which is quite a while. I had fourteen Friday morning sessions last season but driving in practice or in a test is not so similar to racing.
"Driving the car and all that, pushing it to the limit in a single lap is okay, but race weekend trim is something you can't really practice."
Keen to get back in to racing, like much of the field the German doesn't have a clear idea of where Force India fits in. "It's very tough to read from winter testing. A lot of people also have never really run with the fuel out, like Mercedes have done just one single lap where they were pushing. We're a bit in the unknown to know exactly where we are and where the others are."
While podiums are out of reach, Hulkenberg suggests, the team needs to focus on consistent points finishes. "We're looking to be fifth in the Constructors' Championship by the end of this year which is a big task.
"The teams ahead are big names, well known teams with lots of experience," he continued. "We'll try to carry and take the momentum from the end of last season in to this season and convert what we've done there in to another strong start."