Ocon Reflects on 2017 Clashes with Perez at Force India

Nearly a decade after a heated teammate rivalry that defined his rookie Formula 1 season, Esteban Ocon has acknowledged his role in several on-track clashes with Sergio Perez during their time together at Force India in 2017.

Ocon, now driving for Haas, shared his reflections in a recent interview, admitting that his inexperience and eagerness to prove himself contributed to incidents that cost the team valuable points. At 20 years old, Ocon entered his first full F1 campaign with Force India after a partial stint with the backmarker Manor team the previous year. He joined Perez, a seasoned driver in his seventh season, who had already secured six podiums and a reputation as one of the grid's most consistent midfield performers.

The pair's partnership propelled Force India to fourth place in the Constructors' Championship that year, with the team's VJM10 car proving the fourth-fastest overall. Ocon started slowly, failing to score in the opening race, but quickly caught up, leading to intense wheel-to-wheel battles. However, their competitiveness boiled over into four notable collisions across the season.

In Azerbaijan, while both drivers ran in the top five, Ocon squeezed Perez...