Oct.6 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg on Friday could not say he will definitely line up for the Force India team in 2017.
Speculation has linked the German as well as his teammate with potential moves to Renault, but Mexican Sergio Perez’s future is now clear.
“It’s good to know what I’m doing next year,” Perez said at Suzuka, “because it had started to distract me from my job.
“I wanted stability,” he added, “and I wanted to be loyal the team that has helped me the most in my career.
“Next year new cars are coming and it will be important to work with a team you can trust.
“Force India is also the first team behind the top teams, so going somewhere else would have been stepping sideways or backwards,” said Perez.
The big rumour now is that Renault’s next target for 2017 is Hulkenberg.
The German is under contract for 2017, but there are claims Force India may have breached contract by missing a payment or
two.
“Rumours are rumours and facts are facts,” Hulkenberg said at Suzuka.
When asked specifically if he is 100 per cent sure he will be at Force India next year, he answered: “Yes, I think so.”
What Hulkenberg would say for sure is that Silverstone based Force India is a “great team”.
“Although we are a private team, it is very professional with excellent staff and I love being a part of it.
“Over the years we have progressed together and become one of the best teams behind the leaders,” he added.