Perez: I want a new deal with Force India by Spa

Sergio Perez's Ferrari dream looks set to be put on hold for another year as he admits he is keen to conclude a deal to remain with Force India by the end of the summer break.

Perez told ESPN, "I just hope that once I come back to the next race [Spa-Francorchamps] after the summer break, I can have a new contract. That would be good you know, but you never know what will happen."

With Ferrari almost certain to maintain their current driver line-up of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, Perez's hopes of a move to the Italian team are dashed for another year.

The Mexican was a Ferrari academy driver during his junior career and remained linked to the team during his two years with Ferrari powered Sauber outfit.

But his ill-fated move to McLaren in 2013 all but severed his ties with the Maranello outfit. But his time a Woking was not a happy one and he was axed after a year with the team.

Since then the Mexican has revived his career at Force India, where on many occasions he has been the best of the rest behind the grandee teams and more often than not top of the tight mid-field pack.

Perez sees a good future for Force India, "I think the team has been moving forwards every year. Although last year we achieved the same position which we have now which is fourth, I think we have consolidated that fourth place."

"There is a lot more interest in terms of sponsorship into the team, more investment but it's not easy to make the next step with the big boys, with the big teams, it's not easy," added Perez in reference to interest shown to the team ahead of what is expected to be a name change, with the India connection being ditched by the team's boss Vijay Mallya.

Currently Perez lies seventh in the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship, with Force India fourth in the constructors' standings.