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Nico Hulkenberg has signed a contract to drive for the Force India Formula 1 team in 2012, according to reports.
Hulkenberg made a promising GP debut in 2010, culminating in pole position in Brazil, but was replaced by Williams with the well-backed Pastor Maldonado, ostensibly for financial reasons.
Motorsport-total.com reports that the rookie, who has been Force India's reserve driver in 2011, will make his return to racing in 2012, replacing Adrian Sutil.
The report said Hulkenberg has signed a one-year deal with an option for 2013.
SUTIL REPLACED
Hulkenberg's manager Timo Gans said: "We will make no comment on the driver issue until the team makes a statement. Already the current contract includes an option so either way a new contract does not need to be signed."
Team boss Vijay Mallya has said he would not announce Force India's 2012 drivers until December 2011.
Sutil's manager Manfred Zimmermann therefore denied that Hulkenberg would definitely be Paul di Resta's new team mate in 2012.
Zimmermann said: "That is not right. The team - Vijay Mallya and Rob Fernley - confirmed yesterday that this is only a rumour. We are in negotiations with the team. When they will be concluded I cannot say but we certainly will not wait until December 15."
Hulkenberg made a promising GP debut in 2010, culminating in pole position in Brazil, but was replaced by Williams with the well-backed Pastor Maldonado, ostensibly for financial reasons.
Motorsport-total.com reports that the rookie, who has been Force India's reserve driver in 2011, will make his return to racing in 2012, replacing Adrian Sutil.
The report said Hulkenberg has signed a one-year deal with an option for 2013.
SUTIL REPLACED
Hulkenberg's manager Timo Gans said: "We will make no comment on the driver issue until the team makes a statement. Already the current contract includes an option so either way a new contract does not need to be signed."
Team boss Vijay Mallya has said he would not announce Force India's 2012 drivers until December 2011.
Sutil's manager Manfred Zimmermann therefore denied that Hulkenberg would definitely be Paul di Resta's new team mate in 2012.
Zimmermann said: "That is not right. The team - Vijay Mallya and Rob Fernley - confirmed yesterday that this is only a rumour. We are in negotiations with the team. When they will be concluded I cannot say but we certainly will not wait until December 15."