F1 News: Vijay Mallya and Force India Pleased After Nico Hulkenberg Signs Contract Extension

Force India have been gradually climbing the Formula One charts and present drivers -- Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez -- have played an important role in taking them to that direction. Force India presently lie in sixth place with 49 points in the F1 constructors' championships, just one point away from Lotus.

The future for Force India looks bright and the team overall should be even more happy as Hulkenberg, who has been the subject of a move away, has signed a contract extension which will see him remain a Force India driver till 2017.

Hulkenberg had initially joined as a reserve driver for Force India in 2011, and began racing for the team next season, after which he again shifted to Sauber, before re-joining Force India in 2014. Ever since, the German driver has been performing decently, as he finished last season with 96 points. while he has already accumulated 24 points this season.

Hulkenberg feels that the Force India team are hungry for success and are always looking to improve.

"I'm very pleased to finalise and announce my plans for the future," F1 official website quoted Hulkenberg as saying.

"I know this team inside out and I feel at home here so it made perfect sense to make a long-term commitment."

"The progress the team has shown over the last two years has really impressed me and gives me confidence for the future. It's a great group of people who are hungry for success and want to keep improving year-on-year. I think we have the important things in place going forward and I want to continue growing with this team as we move even further up the grid."

With Hulkenberg having decided to sign a new contract, the team can look forward to some fruitful races alongside the German, who finished ninth in the drivers's standings last season.

Things do look promising for Force India, who made their F1 debut in 2008, when they could not secure a single point. But, they have been gradually improving ever since, with the 2014 season being the best with 155 points.

Force India team principal Vijay Mallya was happy with the contract extension of Hulkenberg, who he believes has been developing into one of the best racing drivers in the world.

"I make no secret of being one of Nico's biggest fans and so it's fantastic to confirm him as our driver for the next couple of seasons," Mallya said.

"He has spent almost four years with us already and in that time we've seen him develop into one of the best racing drivers in the world. Nico has the speed, the technical knowledge and the maturity to help us achieve some great results in the years ahead.

"We will do everything we can to continue delivering a car to match his talent."