By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief
Sahara Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley believes that there is a strong likelihood that current driver Sergio Perez will remain with the team for the 2017 Formula 1 season.
Perez has been the center of much speculation this season, originally linked as Kimi Raikkonen’s replacement earlier this year at Ferrari until the Italian-squad re-signed the Finn, and now linked to a possible seat at the Haas F1 Team.
The 26-year-old Mexican has delayed his plans on several occasions and has recently stated that next week is “crucial” to his future.
Fernley answered some of the talk during Friday’s team principal press conference ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix by saying that the contract has been done and it is more of a matter of sorting out the details.
“The driver contracts have been completed for quite some time, as you know,” Fernley said.
“Vijay (Mallya) announced that some time ago and it’s literally dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on the commercial side and if it takes a week, that’s wonderful, if it takes a couple of weeks, so be it.It’ll happen, we’re very confident that Checo will be with us next year. I don’t think we ever deviated from that.”
