Force India F1 team will allow Nico Hulkenberg to move to greener pastures, if opportunity arrives

Force India will let Nico Hulkenberg leave if better opportunity from F1’s leading teams arrive for the German.

Hulkenberg signed a two-year contract with Force India last season that will keep him with the team until the end of the 2017 season.

This was an unusual practice from Force India since they have always preferred one-year contracts with its drivers with an option of a second year.

Although committed to the team for the long term, Force India deputy team Principal Bob Fernley has stated that the team will consider if a career prospering opportunity comes for their driver.

"I'm sure Vijay [Mallya, team principal] would use the same foresight and vision as he did for the Le Mans decision." Fernley said to Autosport.com.

Hulkenberg competed in the prestigious Le Mans competition, which is a 24-hour racing event for the Porsche team. He secured a fantastic victory with teammates Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber.

While Force India were not involved with the win, Fernley sees Hulkenberg’s Le Mans win as a significant milestone for the F1 team and stresses Mallya’s correct decision making skills.

It has to be noted that Sergio Perez, another Force India driver secured a podium finish in 2015.

"Clearly the podium from Sergio [Perez] was the highpoint of 2015. But I also think we should take into consideration Nico's win in Le Mans as a high point as well. What a great achievement for him." Fernley added.

The deputy team principal believes that it will be unfair for Hulkenberg if he fails to add an F1 win to his Le Mans victory. Although, he was quick to state that F1 is a very competitive sport and opportunities in the series are very limited and the German must seize any that comes to his way.

"But as we know in Formula 1 the opportunities are very limited, so let's just hope one of those opportunities comes for him." Fernley stated.