Perez says stability key but options open for 2018

Perez confirmed that he has signed a one-year extension with the Silverstone-based team, with no commitment beyond that.

"I wanted stability," he said on Thursday at Suzuka. "Loyalty plays an important role because this team has been good to me for my career.

"And going on to a new generation of rules, all what I wanted was to have some stability and not move around too much.

"Obviously it was a one-year option so I want to see where we are for next year and what's available for the future."

Perez says he's pleased that the deal is done and the talks about his future are no longer a distraction.

"It's something less to worry about for the rest of the year.

"It's always good to know what you are doing in your future. Now I can get on totally with the job, there are five races left, very important for the team. Hopefully we can keep doing the job we've been doing the whole season."

"[It was] just the uncertainty of whether it was going to happen, because I came to a point where I seriously considered it was not going to happen. It took very long, as my deals are a bit more complex than others.

"Especially because it was so long, it was probably the last two months not knowing where my future will be, it's not the best, but at the end of the day I think coped with it well.

"I've been used to dealing with that, the rumours and the uncertainty in the future. That helped me, what I lived in my past, to try to stay focussed on my job."

Perez confirmed the delay was in essence because his sponsors were negotiating how much coverage they would get for their money.

"It was mainly for a negotiation between my sponsors and the team. That was the main reason that it took a bit longer than expected.

"We were not looking anywhere else. We had other options, other teams were interested in having me, but the Plan A was to stay here.

"It's logical, sponsors want to pay less, and get more space. Just the usual routine! But this time it took a bit longer than expected.

"Probably for the future we will separate the deals, just to make my deal as a driver, and then my sponsors as sponsors.

"In the past and up to next year it's been always linked. I think in the future it will work a bit better if we can separate a bit."