F1: Everyone Is Positive, Says Hulkenberg

Formula 1

F1: Everyone Is Positive, Says Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg is feeling good about Force India's prospects for the 2012 season...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted February 03, 2012 Silverstone (GBR)

Nico Hulkenberg has his options open in 2014. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Nico Hulkenberg says he’s looking forward to be being back in a race seat this year – and he’s confident that the new Force India will be a strong package.

Hulkenberg spent 2011 as a reserve driver, having raced for Williams the previous year.

“I think the car doesn’t look too different to last year, except maybe at the front of the nose, where there is a bit of a change,” said the German of the new VJM05.

“Apart from that, there isn’t much obvious, although the exhaust position is different. Aero wise, it’s in the details again. I saw the car in the wind tunnel and it looked good, but you never know where you are until you are out there and you compete against the others, so let’s wait and see.

“Everyone is positive. Losing the blown floor was a setback, but at the same time the aero guys and engineers are moving on and trying to develop other areas to try and gain back overall. Nowadays you need a strong aero package, a good aerodynamic car, but also mechanically you cannot afford to have poor suspension. It all goes together as a package, and you have to have harmony in the car.”

Hulkenberg said the team hopes to have a car that is competitive on all types of tracks, something it achieved in 2011 but not in the past.

“With 20 races this year you need a car which is very good on every circuit, not just high-speed tracks like Monza, or tight street circuits like Monaco," the German said. "I think if you want to compete against the others, and it’s pretty tough in the midfield out there, you need to be competitive everywhere. We’re just trying to develop and make the car stronger in every aspect.”

He says he doesn’t know how long it will take him to get back into the rhythm of racing.

“Obviously, I went through that process in 2010, and I still have memories of it," Hulkenberg said. "However, it’s not a situation like the beginning of 2010 when I was a complete rookie, and completely new to everything. I’ve gone through it before and I know what to expect and what is coming up. It’s not a bad situation, but it’s true, not having been on the grid for a year it might take some time and some adjustments before I’m fully up there and back in my race rhythm.

“I just have to get back in the groove, get some mileage, get the F1 feeling back, and just prepare. The important thing is to do a qualifying and race simulation, as well, at the latest by the last Barcelona test. It’s what you would do usually, but maybe this time it’s a bit more for myself to prepare.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.

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