Force India F1 Must Relax Team Orders: Perez

Force India F1 driver Sergio Perez has beseeched his team to allow himself and Esteban Ocon to race each other in 2018. For the upcoming season, the team will face stiff competition from the likes of Renault and McLaren. Back in 2017, the Indian outfits’ season was rife with fierce on-track rivalry between Perez and Ocon. This led to several costly run-ins between the two pink panthers. An alarmed Force India imposed team orders in the latter part of the season.

Now, for the upcoming season, Perez hopes that the restrictions will be lifted. Perez said, “We have got to understand how difficult it is going to be next year. We’ll have the Renaults and McLarens pushing us hard. So we need to push freely if we are to be in the fight. We also need to have a car that is competitive from the beginning, to be in the fight from the start and be in the fight for the season.”

The Mexican and the Frenchman were at loggerheads all throughout the season. Things came to a head at Spa after a nasty incident between the two drivers, led to a frosty relationship away from it. That was the last straw for the Force India F1 team and they imposed stringent orders. The 2 drivers wised up as well and a crisis was averted. Perez said, “We hit a very low point on our relationship in Belgium. But things have got a lot better since then. We’re working professionally. We know we work for a team and we have to do the best for them, especially for next year. It’s going to be a massive challenge, given the competition and threat from bigger teams which have struggled.”

Despite the fierce intra-team battling, Perez was all praises for his team mate’s performance in his first full season as a Grand Prix driver. The Mexican said, “Esteban came to F1 really well prepared with his experience in the previous categories and relationships with F1 teams, so that was good for us. Every driver’s personality is different. Certainly Esteban is someone who can be quick. He understands what he needs and that is important. He’s been on it this year.”