Esteban Ocon reflects on Force India collisions with Sergio Perez

Esteban Ocon has admitted that his youthful inexperience and intense desire to prove himself led to several on-track collisions with former Force India teammate Sergio Perez. Reflecting on their tumultuous 2017 and 2018 seasons, the Frenchman acknowledged that while the rivalry cost the team valuable points, it was a crucial part of his development as a Formula 1 driver.

Why it matters:

Force India possessed the fourth-fastest car on the grid during this period but was simultaneously battling severe financial instability. The internal conflict between Ocon and Perez threatened the team's solid standing in the Constructors' Championship and added unnecessary pressure to a squad that was eventually forced into administration and acquisition by Lawrence Stroll.

The details:

• Rookie Pressure: Entering his first full season at just 20 years old, Ocon faced the immense pressure of racing against Perez, a consistent podium contender. The competitive nature of the VJM10 raised the stakes for every wheel-to-wheel battle.
• Major Incidents: The rivalry sparked significant contact at key venues, including Baku where Ocon squeezed Perez into the wall, and Spa-Francorchamps, where clashes on the run down to Eau Rouge led to Ocon famously suggesting Perez "wanted to die." Another collision in Singapore 2018 sent Ocon into the wall at the start.
• Taking Responsibility: Ocon concedes he made mistakes in his drive to impress. "I was very young. I was inexperienced. I wanted to push hard," he explained, regretting the specific outcomes that cost the team points.

Between the lines:

The friction became severe enough for Force India to briefly enforce team orders despite holding a comfortable fourth place in the standings. Ocon notes that while his focus was purely on performance, he now realizes a different approach would have benefited the team during its fragile financial period.

Looking ahead:

Ocon views this era as a pivotal learning curve. He maintains deep respect for Perez and believes overcoming those early errors has refined his approach to wheel-to-wheel racing, making him a more complete driver today.