Nico Hulkenberg admits his 2015 has been a "season with two faces" after struggling with consistency for Force India after winning Le Mans earlier this year.
Hulkenberg won Le Mans 24 Hours at the first attempt earlier this year, driving for Porsche after Force India allowed him to combine two World Endurance Championship rounds with his F1 commitments. He finished last season 37 points ahead of Force India team-mate Sergio Perez but currently trails the Mexican driver by 24 with two races of 2015 remaining, having finished just three of the last eight races.
"It's definitely a season with two faces," Hulkenberg said. "For me personally there's been some really good races and some struggles but that's how it works in a long season."
Force India is on the cusp of securing fifth in the constructors' championship, which would be its best finishing since joining the grid in 2008. The team has scored 81 of its 112 points since introducing its upgraded B-Spec car at Silverstone and Hulkenberg thinks the team can continue its strong development curve into the winter.
"Most importantly for the team is we come away from Abu Dhabi with that fifth, we need two points over Lotus this weekend to secure it. That's the main target. The idea is we continue growing and use the solid base we have with this car to develop more and get closer to the top. The key will be the winter and that we develop in the right direction and keep moving forward. But I have good faith and trust in the team that we can achieve that."