Sergio Perez says he intends to remain at Force India amid speculation over who he might drive for next year.
Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya claimed during the British Grand Prix weekend both his drivers will remain with them next year but Perez subsequently said he could switch teams.
However at Monza team COO Otmar Szafnauer reiterated that Perez will not be joining another team, which the driver confirmed after qualifying.
“I’ve been saying the last month or so that I’m very happy where I am,” he said. “I already make up my mind so I think what Otmar says is quite correct.”
Perez will started tomorrow’s race from eighth place after Force India couldn’t match the pace of Williams in qualifying.
“We haven’t had the pace all weekend,” he admitted. “For some reason they seem to be quicker. Haas was quicker than us today.”
“Williams obviously have a big margin quicker than us. So we’re not where we would have liked to be but in the end I think we maximised the full potential we both had which is very important and hopefully tomorrow we can have a strong race, strong strategy and try to get the Williams.”
See the list of 2017 F1 drivers and teams
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Strontium (@strontium)
3rd September 2016, 14:47
I am quite surprised that Perez isn’t more interested in a move to Renault. Now would surely be the best time for it, giving time to settle in at the team before moving forwards to compete at the front. Nevertheless Force India seem to be always improving too, so it’s definitely a safe and sensible decision
pcxmac (@xsavior)
3rd September 2016, 16:30
why would he want to go to a team that has no future? Why do you think Renault are complaining about finding any real talent?
Renault are a sinking ship, and next year will do them no favors. Just look at how much slower RBR are at Monza, if RBR ever want to win a world championship they are going to have to find another engine supplier or change the rules.
pastaman (@)
3rd September 2016, 19:12
Uhhhh, what? I don’t think a single sentence you wrote is true.
pcxmac (@xsavior)
4th September 2016, 4:20
sobs…
sumedh
3rd September 2016, 14:56
So Button to Williams then? Or Nasr? Or Stroll?
bukester (@bukester)
3rd September 2016, 15:03
I sincerely hope Williams will not bid for Button.
Patrick (@paeschli)
3rd September 2016, 15:07
A Magnussen – Ocon lineup at Renault then?
Daniel
3rd September 2016, 15:34
Renault would need someone more experienced, like Red Bull did with Coulthard or Williams with Massa. Who will be chosen is far from clear right now.
Ocon is a rookie and Magnussen still lacks a significant mileage.
Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
3rd September 2016, 15:30
I hope that Button goes to Williams.
Philip (@philipgb)
3rd September 2016, 15:47
I suspect Ocon or Wehrlein will get the Williams seat with Mercedes backing depending on the rest of their seasons results. Be interesting to see them up against Bottas.
pcxmac (@xsavior)
3rd September 2016, 16:31
teams lining up for Mercedes hand outs. That was always going to happen. When you allow poor levels of competition.
Mike (@mike)
3rd September 2016, 20:39
@xsavior “When you allow poor levels of competition.”
What do you mean, allow?
pcxmac (@xsavior)
4th September 2016, 4:24
lock in poor teams to buy expensive power units that guarantee nothing due to stringent fuel regulations.
Just look at MotoGP before 2007, much better before the new 800cc/electronics/fuel regs.
electronic aids, fuel regulations kill competition and take more opportunities from the ‘little guys’. Yes, they really do. At least as has been demonstrated. Now if it cost considerably less to race, smaller teams could innovate more, but they can’t afford to, because the cost to race is artificially placed to limit competitive opportunity, by the “factories” who run F1, which seems to be Merc alone right now, as no other factory (Ferrari) seems willing to do anything about the nasty fuel regs.
It was much worse in MotoGP, probably will decline again after people get used to the Michelins. What is going on in top level motorsports is more akin to a “controlled economy” not free market.
pcxmac (@xsavior)
4th September 2016, 4:27
the fuel regulations are written to protect Mercedes, the power unit costs and fuel regulations hurt anyone who isn’t a major engine manufacture, and have run two teams out of business, with Renault and Sauber looking down the barrel currently.
What is going on in F1/MotoGP is more akin to a ‘controlled/command economy’ not a ‘free market’. If it cost significantly less, and there was much less barrier to entry in to F1, competition would be higher, and the smaller teams would have more latitude to innovate, but they don’t, because the factories are keeping their overpriced, guaranteed to lose powerunits at a cost just high enough to keep the little guys begging for hand outs, but not so that they have to leave F1/stop being grid filler.
pcxmac (@xsavior)
4th September 2016, 4:28
*sorry about the repeat… guess it can take a minute to update the database.
Jack (@jmc200)
3rd September 2016, 20:40
Hmm, Nasr to Williams? If this is the case with Perez then it improves Magnussen’s chances.