F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Perez: contract decision 'within three months'

Force India driver Sergio Perez told reporters in Spa this week that there had been no firm decisions taken about his Formula One future despite talks being held over the summer break.

"It’s always complicated in the way that my deals work with my sponsors," he said. "In that respect it’s a little bit more complicated, but it doesn’t change anything to be honest.

"It’s just obviously a matter of time to know where my future will be but I stop worrying about it now and I just want to focus on this second half of the year.

"Obviously it cannot take that long any more because in three months the season is over, so I hope well before the season is over I know my future.

"It’s not that it want to leave the team, don’t get me wrong. I’ve always said that I am very happy, that I love this team, I am very comfortable and I believe in the future of this team so I’m not making them wait or hanging or anything like that.

"I think the team is in a good position, I’m in a good position and we both want to move forward together so hopefully it is just a matter of time before it can be solved."

Perez suggested that the considerable financial backing he received from his sponsors has given him something of the whip hand in contract talks.

"I think the ball is more on our side with my sponsors, with the way we are dealing with things. Obviously it is not an easy decision, knowing what to do, but as I say I am relaxed in that respect. "

"I am not concerned any more," he said. "In the last races I was thinking a little bit too much on that regard but now I am more relaxed, I know that whatever comes will be the best for me and that’s what I’ll do and I will give my best."

Despite the backing of his sponsors, Perez agreed that it was crucial to maintain his on-track performance during the contract renegotiation period.

"I think definitely that we should have had more points but to be honest I am happy with what I have achieved so far," he said, singling out his two third place finishes in Monaco and Baku.

"Those two podiums, no one will take them away and hopefully we can score another podium before the end of the year."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.