F1: B-spec a strong base, says Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg believes Force India has a solid foundation on which to attack the new Formula 1 season after finally building a good all-round car.

The team's introduction of its B-spec car last year at the British Grand Prix proved tremendously successful, with Force India going on to secure a best finish of fifth in the F1 constructors' championship. With the regulations remaining stable going into the new season, Hulkenberg feels there is no reason why Force India cannot continue with the vein of form it displayed during the second half of 2015.

"If you look at all the different tracks, the different tyre compounds, whatever, with the B-spec we are more or less in a position where we can score good points on every track on any day, and that is good," Hulkenberg said.

"We have built a really good solid foundation to put us in a good position, and now it is our job to keep working at it and to build on that. That is crucial if we are to straight away be competitive at the first race.

"It's really difficult to predict what we're capable of. Impossible. But that will be seen when we roll out the car for winter testing and the first races. Obviously we target on improving and to close the gap to the front, that is definitely what we are after, what we want and what everybody is pushing for.

"But it doesn't come to you. You have to go get it and find it, so that's our work now."

Hulkenberg knows the team cannot afford to let complacency set in either, and that it has to find further gains from elsewhere.

"Of course, there is more that can be done and that has to be done," insisted Hulkenberg. "Obviously we compete against the other teams every couple of weeks, and now we have seen there are more competitive cars out there.

"With regards to our car there is more room for improvement, and that is what we are doing, what we are working at. If it is mechanical grip, aero, that is Formula 1. You can never stand still. If you do, that is basically going backwards. So we are always working, looking for what we can improve, what we can do, what we have to do."

Originally on Autosport.com