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Force India hopes to retain Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez in 2016

Miguel Tovar/STF/LatinContent/Getty Images

Force India is hoping to retain its driver line-up of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez next year as it targets a top four place in the constructors' championship in 2016.

Speculation in the driver market has settled down since Ferrari confirmed Kimi Raikkonen would stay for another year, but new F1 team Haas is on the lookout for an experienced pair of hands to head up its line-up next year. Both Hulkenberg and Perez could fit that bill, but Force India team principal Vijay Mallya wants to retain his pairing.

"I have always said that I am delighted with both of them and I want to keep both of them," he told the official Formula One website.

Mallya is hoping to break into the top four teams next year and believes the B-spec Force India introduced at the British Grand Prix this season has the potential to be developed into a front runner.

"I have set my targets for the team, and we are doing very well in achieving them," he added. "I will not get carried away saying that we will achieve P4 this season, but there is no reason why we should not target that in 2016.

"2016 is carry over from this season and when the B-spec delivers what we believe it has the potential to, then why not? 2017 is a whole different ballgame. My guess is that the cars will have to be 're-invented' again - and we will start early to stay ahead of the game."