Hulkenberg ready for tyre challenge

Nico Hulkenberg admits coming to grips with the Pirelli tyres in qualifying and race conditions will be his biggest challenges next season…

Nico Hulkenberg admits coming to grips with the Pirelli tyres in qualifying and race conditions will be his biggest challenges next season.

After spending the 2011 season as Force India’s test and reserve driver, Hulkenberg was “promoted” to race driver by the Silverstone squad for the 2012 campaign.

Although the German did some Friday running for Force India in 14 of the 15 races this season, he knows it will be a different kettle of fish using Pirellis during qualifying and in races.

Hulkenburg, who last time he drove an F1 car in qualifying in 2010 when Bridgestone was still the tyre supplier, believes he will need to learn quickly.

“It will be tough, but I went through that process last year with Williams as well,” he told Autosport.

“I don’t know exactly how the Pirelli tyres will behave so I will make sure that I get all of the information I need to learn quickly.

“You need to get out there and do the races so that you can learn about them. On a theoretical basis, there is not so much that you can do. You have to drive and learn from it.”