Sparring Force India duo agree truce
MONZA, Italy: Sergio Perez and his Force India team-mate Esteban Ocon on Thursday admitted they had let their team down with their frequent crashes and clashes - and promised to behave better in future.
The duelling duo, who crashed twice at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix where Frenchman Ocon ended up accusing his Mexican team-mate of endangering his life with reckless driving, said there would be no repetition of such incidents.
“I think we both crossed the line,” said the French rookie, who has impressed with his speed and his forthright style this year. “That is for sure. We touched, so something was wrong in there.
“I won’t argue because it is all behind us now and we want to move forward. We crossed the line and we cannot do that in the future for the purpose of the team and for us.”
Perez said he had taken the initiative to “bury the hatchet” on Thursday morning and felt it was imperative for the sake of their partnership and the future.
He denied he had considered leaving the team to escape the escalating level of their ultracompetitive rivalry.
“We both know that we have done wrong in the past for this team and my main target is not thinking to run away,” he said.
“I think working with Esteban is still possible. It can be a successful partnership and I am not thinking of moving elsewhere.”
Ocon added: “We have to move forward. We had a talk this morning -- just us two -- and it is time that we forget all that... That we work hard for the team.
“That is what is important and that is what they deserve -- that we behave as professionals and we want to keep challenging the others, keep pushing them and keep that fourth place to the end.”
The pair met at the team motor home in the Monza paddock on Thursday morning and then rode a lap of the circuit together on bicycles. — AFP