"What happens next year? It's early to talk about the future"
Tuesday 21 June 2016 08:38, UK
Sergio Perez says he is "very happy" with Force India but indicated his future in F1 is still uncertain as he continues to be linked with Ferrari.
Perez was dropped after just a single season at McLaren in 2013 but has subsequently rekindled his F1 career at Force India.
The Mexican has emerged in recent weeks as the leading candidate to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari for 2017 - a status he emphatically endorsed in Baku by overtaking Raikkonen in the closing stages to clinch his seventh career podium finish in F1.
"I am very happy where l am. I am enjoying it, l love this team. What happens next year? I just hope l am in Formula 1, but who knows where," Perez told Sky Sports F1. "It is too early to talk about the future."
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But as Claire Williams remarked to Sky Sports in Baku, F1's silly season has opened earlier than ever due to so many high-profile drivers becoming free agents at the end of the year. In addition to Raikkonen, the existing deals of Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa, Jenson Button are all believed to expire at the end of the season.
Perez's own contract status is also unclear. However, Force India continue to express confidence that both Perez and existing team-mate Nico Hulkenberg will stay on.
"I think he'll be be with us next year," Bob Fernley, the deputy team principal, told Reuters. "In this business you can never be 100 per cent sure about anything but l would be comfortable to say that he will be with us."
Only a significant financial settlement may be sufficient to the Mexican - a deterrent which may not have much effect on Ferrari given their status as F1's biggest spenders. The 26-year-old is a former driver of Ferrari's driver academy.
Don't miss the F1 Report: Baku review on Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm on Wednesday with Natalie Pinkham, Marc Priestley and Mark Gallagher
