Hulkenberg: I have to get back in the groove and get that F1 feeling back

Feb.16 (PVM) Nico Hulkenberg spent too much time for his own liking sitting on the pit gantry in 2011. This year he is back where he wants to be; in the Force India cockpit doing the business on track as he did in his rookie year with Williams back in 2010.

Speaking to the media after the Jerez test sessions, Hulkenberg admited that he needs to get back into the racing frame of mind after the year spent on the sidelines, "Obviously I went through that process in 2010 and I still have memories of it.

Since his debut at the 2010 Bahrain GP, the 24 year old German has competed in 19 F1 races and concedes, "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 not having been on the grid for a year means it might take some time and some adjustments before I'm fully up there and back in my race rhythm," added Hulkenberg.

The Force India VJM05 was one of the stand-out packages during the first pre-season tests at Jerez de la Frontera, which will allow the 2009 GP2 champion to focus on his race weekend pace.

"I just have to get back in the groove, get some mileage, get the F1 feeling back, and just prepare," said Hulkenberg.

"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," he concluded.