Perez will stay with Canadian F1 team

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS Sergio Perez will stay at Racing Point until at least 2022 after signing a fresh three-year deal, the Canadian Formula One team said on Friday.

The Mexican will partner with Lance Stroll, son of team owner and Canadian billionaire Lawrence, in an unchanged line up for the Silverstone-based outfit.

The deal was announced after Friday’s practice sessions for the Belgian Grand Prix.

“I’ve been working together with this group of people for a long time now and they have become my second family,” Perez said in a statement.

“I have been impressed with the direction the team has taken over the last 12 months, and that gives me confidence for the future.

“I believe the best times are still to come, and I look forward to celebrating plenty of podiums in the years ahead.”

Perez joined Racing Point in 2014, when it was co-owned by troubled Indian magnate Vijay Mallya.

The team’s assets were bought out of administration by a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll last July, with the squad starting over as Racing Point at last year’s Belgian Grand Prix.

The change of ownership brought some much-needed fresh investment to the team, which is now in the process of building for the future.

“Over the last six years we have seen him (Perez) become a very complete driver with excellent qualifying speed and exceptional race craft,” said team principal Otmar Szafnauer.

Perez, who brings important financial backing from Mexican sponsors, has scored five podiums for the team over the course of his career.

The news is the latest in a flurry of announcements that kicked off Formula One’s first weekend back after its annual midseason break.

Mercedes on Thursday said it would keep Valtteri Bottas alongside Lewis Hamilton for another year while Renault said Frenchman Esteban Ocon had signed to drive alongside Daniel Ricciardo starting next season.