Sergio Perez says he is “realistic” about his future in Formula 1 and his chances of driving for a top team again.
The Mexican appeared destined for great things when he came through the Ferrari Academy and enjoyed an excellent season with Sauber in 2012.
However, his big move to McLaren in 2013 changed everything as the British team faltered and he was dropped for 2014, moving to Force India, where he has stayed since.
Perez has remained a consistently strong midfield driver, however, and if Mercedes or Ferrari ever came asking, his answer would be simple.
“I wouldn’t mind any of them,” he told PlanetF1.
The nine-time podium scorer acknowledges he may not be that high on those teams’ respective driver list.
“I didn’t [give up] but I’m also realistic about it,” he continued.
“There are some good youngsters coming through, I just want to do a good job, show experience and speed – that is the only way you keep going in this sport.”
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As it is, Perez has become committed to his current team in more ways than he could imagine, having caused Force India to go into administration exactly a year ago and re-emerging under the ownership and with the financial clout of Lawrence Stroll.
“I think there is some unfinished business with the team, I think there is a bright future,” he said. “But in Formula 1 you never know where you are going to end up.
“So we will see what happens out there.”
This season has so far been rather unspectacular, but a series of upgrades at both the German and Hungarian Grand Prix’s were thought to have seen the Silverstone-based outfit introduce essentially a ‘B-spec’ car.
“Not a B-spec car, it’s just a little upgrade,” he explained. “We have not been able to achieve our full potential but I hope we are able to go to the next step.”
“I would love to win the midfield race so to be P7 would be a good result.”