Sergio Perez believes staying at Force India offers him the best possible future in Formula 1 considering the teams upward trend in results recently, after he was quizzed on team-mate Nico Hulkenberg's move to Renault.
Hulkenberg recently confirmed a move to Renault for the 2017 season, citing major rule changes as the perfect time to switch to a manufacturer team which has the budget to make a success of it.
Perez meanwhile has chosen to remain at Force India, despite interest from other teams including Renault. The Mexican believes none of those offers would have been a step forward for his career.
"I see a good potential [at Force India]," he said on Friday. "If you see, since I arrived up to now, every season we have been moving forwards. It hasn’t been easy.
"Right now we are fourth in the Constructors’ and to go up the next top teams are locked out, they don’t have any vacancy, so really I felt like my next move was going to be sideways or probably backwards.
"I see going to a new generation of cars that my best future is staying where I am, knowing the people that I am working working, having the stability, and as well Force India has done so much for my career I want to be loyal to them."
When asked about his next team-mate, Perez says it's important Force India employs someone who can help push the team forward and challenge him too.
"Obviously having someone at the level of Nico is going to be difficult but I just want someone who comes with the right attitude to help the team, that gives good feedback and understands what’s going on with the car.
"Hopefully if he can be fast as well, who pushes me, that would be great."
