Hulkenberg’s manager confirms Force India talks

Nico Hulkenberg’s manager has confirmed talks about a 2011 race seat with Force India.

With the 23-year-old German ousted by Williams, and Renault now set to re-sign Vitaly Petrov for 2011, reports had named Silverstone based Force India as Hulkenberg’s best chance to stay on the grid next season.

Sport1.de quotes his manager Willi Weber as saying: "There are still options, but not too many."

Referring to Force India, he admitted: "There are currently some talks."

Weber ruled out compiling enough sponsorship for Hulkenberg to buy a cockpit elsewhere. "If you bring money to a F1 team, then that’s what you do for the rest of your life."

He also said he would be "happy" if Mercedes expressed interest in signing up Hulkenberg as reserve driver.

But the German marque’s Norbert Haug said: "It is a disadvantage for your career if you spend a year sitting in a simulator rather than collecting practical experience."

Weber admitted: "That would be a plan B, with the assurance of sitting in the car in 2012."