Force India name drivers for 2012

Nico Hulkenberg (left) and Paul di Resta

Published: 4:01pm, 16th December 2011
Updated: 8:50am, 17th December 2011

Force India have finally confirmed another of Formula One's worst kept secrets by announcing Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg will be their driver line-up for next season.

It means the Silverstone-based marque have dumped Adrian Sutil after six seasons with the team through its various guises since he began in 2006. Sutil also finished a career-high ninth in the drivers' standings this past season, as well as helping Force India to their highest position of sixth in the constructors' standings.

Explaining his decisions, team principal Vijay Mallya said: "In Paul and Nico we have two extremely talented drivers with tremendous potential."

He added: "Paul caught the eye of everybody in the pit lane during his rookie season. His speed, maturity and race craft confirmed we were right to believe in him and we look forward to working with him again next year.

"As for Nico, we identified him as a rising star at the end of 2010 and chose to evaluate him during the course of this season.

"Despite having only limited time in the car, he convinced us that he deserved a race seat for 2012.

"Our new line-up means we say goodbye to Adrian, who has been with the team since we entered the sport. He has been an integral part of our success over the past four seasons and we wish him well for the future."

The 28-year-old German, who finished 15 points clear of Di Resta at the end of a solid rookie campaign for the Scot, remains favourite to be taken on by Williams.

Di Resta enjoyed a superb second half of the season, finishing in the points in seven of the final nine grands prix, including a high of sixth in Singapore.

For Hulkenberg, who last raced at the end of 2010 with Williams, the 24-year-old steps up from the reserve role he occupied with Force India last season.