Sergio Perez may have just signed a multi-year contract extension with Force India but the Mexican driver is still eyeing a seat at a top team.
This time last year, Perez was dumped by McLaren after a single season with the British team, and found his future in Formula One riddled with doubts and question marks.
On Sunday, he is confirmed in next year’s Force India line-up, alongside Nico Hulkenberg, and the 24-year-old is confident in what he brings to the table.
Perez considers himself one of the more experienced drivers on the grid which he believes could prompt one of the top teams to hire him in the future.
"If I look back at this time last year, 12 months ago, I never thought I’d be in this situation ever in Formula 1," admits Perez.
"I’m a lucky driver I know. When certain things hit you hard like I had with McLaren you realise so many things. You learn from things.
"And now for me it’s time to look forward. I want to improve as a driver, I want to be a world champion and I want to prove to the teams that I’m still there.
"With all my experience – that not many drivers have out there – from being in a top team, coming back to a midfield team, I feel that gives me a lot of encouragement to the future because if ever I get the chance to get into a top team, I know what I did wrong with McLaren and I know what certain things I will change for my future, to have a bright future in Formula 1."
Force India entered the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix lying sixth in the constructors’ standings, retaining the position they held last year, but with more points than they have ever won in one season.
Perez says the team must make sure to build on this year’s success.
"I think realistically – we had the best season in the history of the team, so next year we have to improve on what we did this year. And if we can do that it will be a good season. Hopefully we can move ahead and move our constructors’ championship further up," he said.
Force India have been one of the three teams – along with Lotus and Sauber – to call for a fairer distribution of revenues in Formula 1 and with the grid losing marques like Marussia and Caterham, there has been lots of financial uncertainty in the sport.
Asked how the off-track problems have affected him as a driver, Perez said: "I read the news, I see what’s going on. It’s not a nice situation for the sport. But this is where I am. Although having a contract doesn’t guarantee anything, I have to believe it and I have to move forward as a racing driver that’s all I can do."
Meanwhile, Hulkenberg was happy to secure his seat with the Silverstone-based team.
Of his 2015 aspirations, the German said: "The target should be to perform as we did at the beginning of this season and then trying to maintain that for one complete year."
2015 team line-ups
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton/Nico Rosberg
Red Bull-Renault: Daniel Ricciardo/Daniil Kvyat
Williams-Mercedes: Valtteri Bottas/Felipe Massa
Ferrari: Kimi Raikkonen/Sebastian Vettel
McLaren-Honda: Fernando Alonso (tbc)/Jenson Button or Kevin Magnussen (tbc)
Force India-Mercedes: Nico Hulkenberg/Sergio Perez
Toro Rosso-Renault: Max Verstappen/(tbc)
Lotus-Mercedes: Romain Grosjean/Pastor Maldonado
Sauber-Ferrari: Marcus Ericsson/Felipe Nasr
