Nico Hulkenberg has put a brave face on the speculation swirling around the future of Force India.

The speculation is the result of team co-owner and boss Vijay Mallya's legal troubles in India, with the former billionaire said to be appearing for questioning relating to huge debts on Friday rather than attending the 2016 season opener in Australia.

"Of course I read about what is going on," Hulkenberg, who drives for Mallya's F1 team, said in Melbourne.

"But it's hard to make a judgement when you don't know all the facts.

"All I know is that there have always been these stories about Vijay, but he is still there."

Practice for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix begins on Friday.