Hulkenberg keen to learn about Pirelli tyres

Nico Hulkenberg has highlighted the need to learn about the new Pirelli tyres as quickly as possible when he returns to Formula One on a full-time basis in 2012.

Hulkenberg replaces Adrian Sutil at Force India next season after a year with the team as reserve driver.

The 24-year-old will have no issues familiarising himself with the Force India car and set-up after running almost 2,000 kms in 2011 either in testing or during the 14 occasions that he ran in Friday practice.

But while the former Williams driver is confident with the team and car, the German driver has stated the need to learn about the tyres.

When he last raced in Formula One, the tyres were provided by Bridgestone and so Hulkenberg has no experience of qualifying and racing with the new style rubber.

'It will be tough, but I went through that process last year with Williams as well, 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. Hulkenberg told Autosport Magazine.

'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.'

Many observers in the Formula One paddock spoke about Mark Webber's and Lewis Hamilton's indifferent seasons in comparison to their respected team-mates at Red Bull and McLaren and some believe the difference was how the drivers responded to the new Pirelli tyres, so the importance of understanding the tyres in Formula One should not be underestimated.