There is no one like Sergio Perez on the grid and we are not claiming that because of his nationality. The one quality Perez possesses that sets him apart is his defense. This quality was monumental in Max Verstappen‘s maiden championship victory in 2021. Perez’s defense against Hamilton even earned him the title “Mexican Minister of Defense.” Although Perez’s former teammate Esteban Ocon is challenging the title.

Maybe it was a Force India thing, but Esteban Ocon is showcasing similar defensive abilities on the track. The Frenchman showcased his persistence during many races in the 2022 season. One instance that stands out, in particular, is his defense against Lewis Hamilton in Suzuka. Maybe this is why Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer believes Ocon is called the French minister of defense.

As tweeted by the Turkish subsidiary of Motorsport, the Alpine boss thinks Ocon should also have a similar nickname as Perez. He said, “I know that Checo’s nickname is the minister of defense, but maybe we should also have a French minister of defense. I think we can consider giving Esteban this nickname.”

The Alpine boss also put this thought in Ocon’s head and he even translated the nickname into French “Ministre de la défense”. 

Read More: “Max Is the Champion Because of Checo”: Sergio Perez Stops the Red Bull Revolving Door as the Minister of Defense Proves His Place Alongside Verstappen

We are not sure how the Mexican minister of defense would take to this comparison. Especially after the Frenchman claimed he would never like a repeat of the relationship he had with Perez with his future teammates.

Esteban Ocon never wants the same environment in a team as he did with Sergio Perez

The two drivers raced together for Force India in the 2017 and 2018 championship seasons. However, there was a lot of animosity between the two and Ocon never wants a repeat of that.

Speaking to the official Formula 1 website, Ocon revealed, “What happened at Force India is not something I want to redo again.” Ocon then pitted Perez with his then-teammate Daniel Ricciardo. “On the track, we came close too many times, that was clear, and that was not good. It’s not something I want to do again. The atmosphere is definitely a lot better between me and Daniel than it was with Checo,” he added.

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We guess it was a case of two lions in one jungle in Force India. However, the two are on different trajectories now. Let’s see if they come together again in 2023.