Perez deal due in "days"

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Published on 17 Aug 2018 13:17
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By: Fergal Walsh

Sergio Perez says that a new deal is due in days, as he looks set to stay on with Force India. The Mexican is out of contract at the end of the year, however it is believed that he will stay on with the team to partner Lance Stroll.

The future of the Silverstone-based team was in serious doubt before Lawrence Stroll led a consortium to pull the team out of administration. Perez brings financial backing to Force India, meaning he is much more likely to get the second seat over Esteban Ocon.

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"I just talked to Checo," said Fox journalist Luis Manuel Lopez at an event in Mexico. "He confirmed that there are only days left for his automatic extension at Force India."

With Ocon's future in the dark, the Frenchman has emerged as a candidate to be Carlos Sainz's teammate at McLaren next season. It is believed that the Woking outfit has already reached out to the 21-year-old over a possible seat.

However, it still has an option on Stoffel Vandoorne, while it could also promote its reserve driver Lando Norris. But some believe Ocon is the favourite because McLaren may hand Norris to Toro Rosso in order to speed up James Key's transition to the struggling team.

michielhimself

Posts: 132

Ocon has ties to Renault too. He started his single-seater career under guidance from Gravity Sports Management which is a company aligned to Renault F1. If it's a choice between no drive or a McLaren drive, I'm sure Toto Wolff who currently holds Ocon's management contract, won't stand in the way.

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Aug 17 2018 - 17:45

F1 News Sergio Perez Stoffel Vandoorne Esteban Ocon Lance Stroll Lando Norris McLaren Force India

Replies (13)

mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
I would love to see Ocon beside Sainz in the other McLaren.
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- Aug 17 2018 - 16:21
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I dont. I prefer to see Ocon in a competitive car. And Ocon is a Merc' driver, so its a mute point. He is more or less guaranteed a seat at a Merc' powered team.
  + 0
  
  Aug 17 2018 - 17:37
- michielhimself
  
  Posts: 132
  Ocon has ties to Renault too. He started his single-seater career under guidance from Gravity Sports Management which is a company aligned to Renault F1. If it's a choice between no drive or a McLaren drive, I'm sure Toto Wolff who currently holds Ocon's management contract, won't stand in the way.
  + 2
  
  Aug 17 2018 - 17:45
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Him having Renault associations doesnt necessarily help him get into McLaren when they already have 1 driver in F1 that they will probably resign for 2019, 1 driver that they have taken from another team, and 1 driver knocking at the door to F1. McLaren isnt the answer for Ocon.
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  Aug 17 2018 - 23:14
- michielhimself
  
  Posts: 132
  Agreed. Ocon had better hope that Mercedes decide to throw a rescue package into the direction of Claire Williams / Paddy Lowe. With the departure of the $trollars and M€rtini, they need every penny they can get next year. Plus they could do with a proper talented and by now experienced as well as hungry driver like Ocon. So hopefully uncle Toto has a fat wallet he's willing to pull to make that happen.
  + 1
  
  Aug 18 2018 - 08:03
- Major Tom
  
  Posts: 152
  It would make sense for McLaren, and, if Ocon finds himself without a drive would make sense for Ocon. Since it seems likely that next years Force Indian's drivers are going to be Perez / Stroll (next year's weakest driver pairing?) perhaps McBhargav could get his wish.
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  Aug 19 2018 - 23:52
Alonzo

Posts: 66
Williams seems more likely for Ocon, but you never know, it's been a weird Silly season...
Perez stroll at Force Canada makes sense, we'll see how the teams acts once 2019 start... Will they favor Lance?
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- Aug 17 2018 - 17:03
- Ram Samartha
  
  Posts: 1,172
  I doubt they will at first. The Strolls are the new boss coming in while Perez is the in-house hero that everybody knows who helped save their jobs.
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  Aug 17 2018 - 18:15
jimac

Posts: 30
I am worried that if Checo does stay at Force India, that Lance Stroll will get the upgrades/good bits in priority (like Hulkenberg has this year at Renault and Vettel at Ferrari etc), which paints a better picture of one driver than is necessarily the reality.
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- Aug 17 2018 - 17:43
Kean

Posts: 692
What about Haas for Ocon? Surely Haas is a more attractive proposition than McLaren in its current state.
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- Aug 17 2018 - 19:22
- michielhimself
  
  Posts: 132
  Haas will keep Magnussen, what with Günther Steiner singing his praises to the press just this very week. So if they ditch Grosjean as expected, expect LeClerc to get that seat (and do great next year)? That frees up an AR Sauber seat to Giovinazzi. Indeed I do not wonder where Grosjean would be going, I really don't.
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  Aug 18 2018 - 08:08
- RenaultFM1
  
  Posts: 100
  @MICHIELHIMSELF why would they ditch Grojean? He been done great first 2 years and he still have races left this season to make it up for the first half.
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  Aug 18 2018 - 09:22
NSBiker

Posts: 18
There are forces at work here that are well beyond any connection that we may have.
As for the Silly Season being weird .... this is amazingly entertaining.
Think of it, we have had a top team driver jump, another former WC say .. "I quit", a competitive team almost (oh so close it was ...) on the verge of bankruptcy, a subsequent bail-out, sorry, "investment" , and at least half a dozen current drivers nervous for their rides next year. As the song says ... "And the beat goes on ...".
Gotta luv-it.
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- Aug 17 2018 - 22:11