Perez to take Carlos Slim money to better team? (8th Update)
On Saturday, British television announced at Monza that the Mexican will definitely be staying at Force India next year rather than switching to Renault or Williams.
But official confirmation did not follow.
"What I know is that what happens is what I always wanted," Perez is quoted by the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet.
But, when he was asked after qualifying at Monza if the rumors are true, he added: "Officially nothing is confirmed, but I hope soon to announce everything."
Asked if that means he is staying with Force India, Perez answered: "I see no reason to change, but in this business you never know."
It is believed Lance Stroll, the son of Canadian fashion billionaire Lawrence Stroll, is now in pole for the Williams seat with up to $35m of backing in tow.
09/03/16 This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today. Sergio Perez appeared to confirm paddock speculation that he is to stay at Force India for another season, after he successfully clinched eighth place on the starting grid for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
Although no official announcement has yet been issued, Force India's Otmar Szafnauer had told reporters that the deal to keep Perez at the squad for a fourth season had now been signed.
Asked by Sky Sports F1 whether the deal had indeed been sealed, Perez gave an initially indirect answer before finally conceding that Szafnauer was 'correct' in what he had said.
"I've been saying like for the last month or so that I'm very happy where I am and that I've already made up my mind, so I think what Otmar says is quite correct.
"Our performances this season show that the potential is there, " he added. "It was only the pros and cons with my partners, but Otmar if you said it must be true…"
08/29/16
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| Sergio Perez, has huge check will drive but will he step back to slower team – Renault? |
(GMM) News about Sergio Perez's future may now be imminent.
It has been a hot topic in the F1 paddock recently, after Force India supremo Vijay Mallya said the Mexican has a deal in place for 2017.
Perez, however, is refusing to commit publicly to the Silverstone team, nor refute speculation his Mexican backers could transfer to the works Renault team.
Force India deputy Bob Fernley said at Spa that the team would "very much" like to keep Perez, but acknowledged that his sponsor contracts are "highly sophisticated and complex".
"That's the negotiation process we're under now and I would be very surprised if we're not staying with the two drivers in 2017," he added.
Also linked with a potential move to Renault for 2017 is Williams' Valtteri Bottas, and Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen told the Danish newspaper BT: "Renault is a team with attractive potential.
"But right now Williams, Force India, Toro Rosso and even Haas are quicker," he added.
Perez, meanwhile, indicated that the uncertainty could end shortly.
Asked when news about his future will be known, the 26-year-old said at Spa: "I hope soon — before the start of the races in Asia."
F1's European season ends after Sunday's Italian grand prix at Monza, with the circus then moving on to Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.
08/17/16
(GMM) Sergio Perez has admitted it is possible his powerful Mexican backers will call time on his tenure at Force India at the end of 2016.
Team supremo Vijay Mallya has said both Nico Hulkenberg and his current teammate are definitely staying for 2017, but Mexican Perez has been linked with potential moves to Renault or Williams.
When asked if it is possible he will leave Force India, Perez replied: "Yes."
The 26-year-old is backed by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim and his companies, and he explained: "It's up to me and the group of sponsors.
"If we're moving around teams, we take the decision together with the group of sponsors that I have and that decision has not been taken."
Perez, who has been particularly on form in 2016 with two podiums, is regularly a factor in F1's annual 'silly season', and that is due in part to his powerful backing.
"My deals are not so simple as I have a lot of sponsors that have to do deals and so it takes longer," he admitted.
08/04/16 The rumor to Ferrari is downgraded to 'false' now that Ferrari has re-signed Raikkonen.
07/05/16 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen looks set to keep his place at Ferrari in 2017, according to the latest specialist reports from Italy.
Although other drivers have been linked with the Finn's place, his podium in Austria and Sebastian Vettel's DNF means the pair are now equal on points after 9 races this year.
La Gazzetta dello Sport says Ferrari will take its decision on Raikkonen within the month of July, indicating that it might fall in the 36-year-old's favor.
Ferrari test driver Marc Gene agrees.
"It is likely that Kimi will continue. I believe it anyway, in part because there don't seem to be any clear replacements for him on the market," he told the Spanish broadcaster Movistar.
06/23/16
(GMM) Sergio Perez's bid for a Ferrari race cockpit for 2017 could have got an eight-digit boost.
The Mexican is riding a wave of confidence and form at present after two podiums in the last three races for the little Silverstone-based team Force India.
"He still has the fiery image of a young driver but now we also see he is methodical, calm and able to resist pressure," former F1 driver Franck Montagny told Le Point.
"Now we will have to see if he can resist media pressure too, with these rumors," added the Frenchman.
Indeed, while Ferrari and the 26-year-old have played down the speculation, rumors continue to link Perez with a move to Maranello next year.
Germany's Auto Bild claims that bid could have been boosted even more by his backer, Carlos Slim, who already sponsors Ferrari via Haas driver Esteban Gutierrez.
The report said Slim, who according to Forbes is the world's fourth-richest billionaire, is willing to boost his sponsorship by an eight-digit figure if Perez is chosen to replace Kimi Raikkonen.
As for rumors that Mercedes is also interested in Perez, team boss Toto Wolff said: "That's not true."
06/08/16
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| Kimi Raikkonen |
(GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has indicated Ferrari intends to keep Kimi Raikkonen at the team beyond 2016.
The 36-year-old Finn's contract is expiring, and names including Nico Rosberg and Daniel Ricciardo have been linked with the seat.
Sebastian Vettel, however, publicly wants Raikkonen to stay.
When asked to name the ideal teammate for German Vettel in 2017, boss Arrivabene answered: "I'll tell you next year.
"We have the ideal pairing, with both of them pushing forward. What more do we want?" he told the Swiss newspaper Blick.
06/06/16 (GMM) Sergio Perez's father has triggered wild speculation about the next high-profile news in formula one.
Ilta Sanomat, a Finnish daily, said it has heard from Mexican sources that Perez's father Antonio has declared that big news is looming ahead of the Canadian grand prix this week.
"It is rumored that (Sergio) Perez could move to Ferrari very soon or later this season, taking Kimi Raikkonen's place," the report declared.
However, Antonio Perez's declarations are more likely to tie in with rumors that the Dutch beer giant Heineken is set to announce a major sponsorship with the F1 group of companies within the next few days.
Force India has been linked with a reported Heineken team sponsorship deal.
Interestingly, Heineken owns 42 per cent of Vijay Mallya's drinks empire United Breweries, with Force India co-owner and boss Mallya's share down to just 32pc.
Heineken said recently it was "following developments" in the Mallya saga, amid the former Indian billionaire's collapsed airline Kingfisher and his legal troubles.
"We have been following developments in the Indian press recently. But we would not comment at this stage," a Heineken spokesperson had said.