Sergio Perez says he will have to leave Force India to seek a more competitive seat if he is to ever realise his dream of becoming a World Champion.
The Mexican driver, who began his career at Sauber in 2011 and scored three surprise podium finishes in his second season with the outfit, has already tasted what it's like to be in a top team after he replaced Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2013.
However the marriage didn't last after a tough season together and Perez moved to Force India where he scored a podium in only his third race with the team and a further three since, including two so far this season.
However he concedes that he's unlikely to win a championship at Force India and he must therefore consider looking elsewhere, with recent speculation linking him to Williams and Renault.
"I know that to become a World Champion in Formula 1 I need to move further up the grid," he told GPUpdate.
"Whatever happens, whether the opportunity comes or not, who knows. It's going to be difficult, realistically.
"This team, no matter what happens, will always be in my heart. What Vijay [Mallya] did for me to save my Formula 1 career, and the whole team since I arrived here, is huge."
Perez believes his time at McLaren, although disappointing, should work in his favour as he's already experienced the pressure that comes with racing for such a historic and successful name.
"I think one of the best things about me is that I've already been in a top team in F1, and I know what it's like working in a top team," he added.
"I think I have learned hugely, how to be a leader of a team and how to work with the big teams, so that's a big difference, the way I motivate people and the way I work with people.
"Obviously I'm not the same guy as I was three years ago. I've grown not only in age, but as a driver and a person, the way I see life and the way I see the sport."
