SPIELBERG, Austria -- Sergio Perez is not ruling out a switch to Ferrari next year, but says he has not made contact with the Italian team so far this season.
Following two podiums in three races for Force India, Perez has been linked to Ferrari as a possible replacement for Kimi Raikkonen. On Thursday he insisted the stories were purely based on rumours, but he also appeared keen to keep his options open for 2017.
"In F1 you cannot rule out anything, I've learned from that in the past," Perez said. "You never know what will happen in the future so we will see how things develop for the future.
"I think we are getting closer to take a decision to where we come to with my future and then we will see if there is an opportunity or not."
Asked if he has had talks with Ferrari this year, Perez said: "No. It's just rumours."
Perez spent a year at McLaren in 2013, but his arrival at the team coincided with its fall down the grid and after just one year he was replaced by Kevin Magnussen. Despite the apparent setback in his career, Perez said his objectives have not changed.
"Ultimately I want to be a world champion, I want to succeed in the sport and I think to do that you have to be a world champion. We'll see how things develop, I think Force India, we have grown together in the past years and I think we will see what happens. That is my main target, I don't want to prove McLaren if they are wrong or right, I just want to prove myself that I am good enough to be a world champion."
Perez said the rumours are proof he is doing a good job at Force India.
"Yeah, I mean as I say, as a racing driver it makes you feel proud, especially how my career has been in the past years, to finally realise that I am back there again. Although they are only rumours, I know that I am doing a good job, I know that I am performing well and working well with the team and that's good for anyone in any job, when you know that you are performing and growing, it makes you feel proud for what you have done for your work."