Sergio Perez expecting to stay at Force India for 2016 season

Sergio Perez has revealed he is close to securing another season at Force India and denied he has held talks with Lotus' prospective new owners, Renault.

With the pieces of the 2016 F1 driver line-up beginning to fall into place, Force India announced earlier this week that Perez's team-mate Nico Hulkenberg had signed a two-year contract extension to stay at the Silverstone outfit.

Perez, who joined Force India from McLaren 18 months ago, described the Hulkenberg confirmation as "great news" and said he now expected his own future to be resolved imminently.  

"For me I think the news is coming quite soon," he told reporters at Monza on Thursday.

"Obviously I have a contract with the team and, as you know, I have a group of sponsors and we're trying to make the announcement all together. So from that respect it's all clear."

Perez was announced on a "multi-year deal" when his place at Force India for 2015 was confirmed last November, with his position linked to the presence of a number of Mexican sponsors at the team.

"We're getting into the point where very soon things should be announced. I expect my plans to be announced hopefully before the next race," added Perez. "My priority is to stay here."

And asked if recent speculation that he was speaking to Renault, who are on the verge of buying Lotus, was true Perez replied: "No."

Focus on Perez's future has come on the back of the Mexican's best result of the season when he claimed fifth at Spa – Force India's highest finish for over 12 months.

This weekend's Italian GP at Monza is also likely to suit the Mercedes-engined VJM08 and Perez said: "I think so - I see no reason why we shouldn't be strong this weekend.

"We have good optimism and found good things with the car back in Belgium. I'm more confident with the car so I think we should be quite strong here."