Force India Chief Operating Officer Otmar Szafnauer believes drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon are past the “conflict stage”, and is expecting a better working relationship between the pair in 2018.
Mercedes-backed youngster Ocon replaced Renault-bound Nico Hulkenberg as Perez’s team-mate at Force India in 2017 and the pair clashed several times mid-season.
Having undertaken a testy battle in Canada, the duo collided at the following event in Azerbaijan, causing damage to both cars, and costing Force India a potential podium position.
Another brush followed at the start in Hungary, before matters reached a head in Belgium, when they twice collided, the second incident resulting in a puncture for Perez and wing damage for Ocon.
Force India implemented team instructions for the next rounds, denying the pair the opportunity to race, though relaxed the rules during the closing events, having avoided controversy.
When asked if Perez and Ocon has been reminded of their responsibilities, Szafnauer responded: “Daily, if not hourly!
“We’re going to start off the season as we left it last year, if you remember the last few races they were allowed to compete against each other.
“Like any relationship or partnership or even a team, they go through phases and one of the phases of team building is the conflict stage.
“When you get past the conflict stage then you work better together and I think that’s the stage they’re at now.
“They had to understand each other and get through that phase, which they’ve got through.
“Now we look forward to working together as a team and even stronger than before that conflict stage.”
