I am the 'continuity guy'; I don't like to jump cockpits every second year... Sergio Perez

Q: Checo, in Monza you said that you wanted to have your F1 future sorted out before Singapore - but since then there has only been rumours, and nothing official... Sergio Perez: Yes, actually that was my plan. But in life you don't always get what you want - and in Formula One in particular! (Laughs) No real news yet, but closing in. So let's postpone it - before the next race in Malaysia! Then I should be in a position to announce my future, even though I have the impression that it is already all over town. But I am a suspicious person: nothing is finalised until the ink is dry on the contract. Q: Your current team principal Vijay Mallya wants you to stay - but Claire Williams also said that you could be a good fit for Williams. What do you see as the benefits of each team? SP: First and foremost I am very proud to be part of Force India. What we've achieved in the past three years has been amazing, so I fully believe in the prospects of this team. I am very happy here and it's no secret that I want to continue my career with this team. Speaking of Williams, I do appreciate their interest. I don't know that team well, but they had plenty of success in the past. I am somewhat flattered that they considered me. Q: What criteria do you look at when choosing a team? Money, team principal, team mate, engineers - what? SP: You always consider everything. It's your career and you wouldn't want to tamper with it. You also have to draw a scenario for the future and not only think short term for the next one or two years. Stability is important. So you better have all that on your radar before putting your name to a contract. Q: From those things mentioned above, which could you most easily go without? SP: Let's have a look first at what I couldn't live without: good people in the team. People make the success. You spend a lot of time together, so the chemistry better fit. Probably the last thing on my 'important list' would be money. Money you can somehow manage to work around.

People make success. Probably the last thing on my 'important list' would be money. Sergio Perez on what will shape his 2017 plans

Q: How much influence do your backers have on that decision? SP: I have good influence on making my own fate, because at the end of the day I am the one sitting in the car. But I am lucky to have so much support from my sponsors, so actually we do decide together what deal can be done. Q: You just mentioned continuity. Is that something that's important to you? SP: Yes, I am the 'continuity guy'. I don't like to jump cockpits every second year. I had that in the past - I was pretty much forced to - so thanks, but no thanks! (Laughs) I like to build the team around me and have success together. Q: In any case it will be a midfield team… SP: Well, that's not rocket science to work out that it will be a midfield team, as all the top teams have no availability... Q: …but where does that leave your ambitions? SP: I want to move myself into a position to step up in the future should a top seat become available - to be on their radar. Q: A Formula One career is a very fragile thing. What are the three biggest dangers to that career? SP: Losing ground - that for sure is number one. Not enjoying what you do. And not having success. These three things I'm pretty sure cut your career short. Q: After Belgium Force India were fourth in the standings - after Italy you were back in P5 again. At Spa the team bagged 22 points, but in Monza only five. Can you explain that drop? SP: Force India has made the most out if its chances so far. In Monza we again made the most of them - but there the most was five points. There was no way we could have had it any better. Probably if Nico (Hulkenberg) had been a bit luckier he could probably have fought Felipe Massa a bit harder. But at the end of the day I beat one of the Williams cars and they were a lot faster there. So my guess is that with Williams and us it will be a fight for P4 for the rest of the season - and I would not mind having the last say in Abu Dhabi! Q: For many pundits you and Nico are one of the best driver pairings - but unfortunately not sitting in a winning car. Is that what glues you together: the same situation? SP: Unfortunately yes. And we both know that it is all about being patient and making the most of what we have right now – and we do!

We get along well and push each other very hard - in three years we've never had any issues that turned nasty Perez on his relationship with team mate Nico Hulkenberg