Nico Hulkenberg believes Force India F1 team can still get stronger

Force India finished sixth in the constructors' championship with its highest points haul since the team assumed its current identity in 2008.

But despite its scoring rate tailing off in the second half of the season, Hulkenberg has no doubts it can continue to improve.

"I hope we can improve, get a little better again and make another step in the right direction," Hulkenberg told AUTOSPORT.

"We slipped behind a little bit in the second half of the season, so we need to have a very good and efficient winter to start with a good car again.

"Then the aim and the target is for us to be as good and consistent as we were at the beginning of the 2014 season."

Although Force India has finished either sixth or seventh in the constructors' championship during the past five seasons, Hulkenberg believes the team has made major strides.

The German first joined the team as third driver in 2011 and has remained there since, save for spending 2013 at Sauber.

"There is progression, but people can't look behind the scenes at Force India so maybe it's hard to see if you just look at the results," said Hulkenberg.

"Me having been here for the first time in 2011, and having left and come back, I can see big changes.

"The team has a bigger infrastructure, more people and has a stronger team at the factory."

Hulkenberg added that he expects the Mercedes engine to continue to have the advantage next season, which will boost Force India's hopes.

"It's obviously still to be seen next season, but the talk is they [Mercedes] have a lot in their pocket."

FORCE INDIA'S RISE

Since the team was rebranded as Force India for the 2008 season, its performances have improved every year, save for in 2013 when it had to divert resources into its next car for the major regulations change that followed.

Year	Championship  Points
2008        10th        0
2009         9th       13
2010         7th       68
2011         6th       69
2012         7th      109
2013         6th       77
2014         6th      155