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Perez: I'll decide my future over summer break
Sergio Perez says he plans to use this year's summer break to make a decision about his long-term future in Formula 1, after Force India confirmed he would be remaining with it for next year at least.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Jul 8, 2016, 6:23 PM
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The Mexican was linked with a switch to Ferrari for 2017, but that avenue closed off on Friday when the Maranello-based outfit announced that it was retaining Kimi Raikkonen.
With that meaning the best seats are now pretty much locked down for next season, the best hope of drivers like Perez landing a seat with a top team will now have to wait for 2018.
Decision not made
Although not denying he was under contract for next season, Perez said at the British Grand Prix that he wanted to spend time next month better reflecting on where he wanted his career to go.
"I have said it before, I haven't made up my decision on where my future will be," said Perez. "I want to take some time off and reflect on things over this summer break.
"Right now, the season is so intense that I don't want to waste any energy. I want to give it all to my team because we are in a very important part of the calendar with three races in the next four weeks.
"That is the main target for me – to give it all and come away from these three races with a lot of points and then I will sit down with my people and see what is best for my future."
When asked if team boss Vijay Mallya had been wrong to claim that Perez was committed to Force India for 2017, he replied: "I am not saying that...I am saying I will make up my decisions on what I will do for the future.
"I am not saying what Vijay said is wrong, don't get me wrong. I haven't done any decision on my future yet."
Good luck Ferrari
Perez thinks that with his stock being quite high on the back of his two podium finishes this season, that the next steps he takes in F1 could be decisive for his F1 career.
"That is the thing," he said. "There are so many questions that I need to ask myself and I need to know.
"It is obviously an important stage of my career. I am not that young any more. I am 26 and I think the next years are the best ones in my career. I want to make sure that I spend them right."
When asked by Motorsport.com for his reaction on the Raikkonen news, Perez said: "I always said that there was no contact with Ferrari.
"I think they are looking for the best possible chance of winning the title because Ferrari is a big team and they are obliged to fight for titles.
"They went for it and good luck to them. It changed nothing for me."
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