F1: Le Mans win showed Hulkenberg's ability says Fernley

Nico Hulkenberg's role in Porsche's Le Mans 24 Hours victory proved his status as a world-class racer, reckons Force India's Bob Fernley.

Hulkenberg took victory in the French sports car classic with Porsche two weeks ago, sharing the honors with Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber. The Force India driver then returned to Formula 1 and secured his best result of the season with sixth in the Austrian Grand Prix.

Fernley, Force India's deputy team principal, believes both Hulkenberg and Formula 1 benefited from his success.

"It shows the quality of Formula 1 drivers, that one can go across to Le Mans and become one of the stars of the show," he told AUTOSPORT. "From Nico's point of view that Le Mans win has put him back into the frame where he should be. It has given him the confidence in himself again which is very important.

"We've never for one minute questioned his ability. But all drivers, if they go through a bit of a lean patch start to question themselves and he doesn't have to. Le Mans ticked the box for him, so he's off and running again.

"Hopefully we can give him a car at Silverstone to be able to show how his talents again as I think the combination could be very strong."

Hulkenberg's Austrian GP result moved him up to ninth in the F1 drivers' standings and pushed Force India past Lotus for fifth in the constructors' points.

Originally on Autosport.com