Force India is to implement team orders prohibiting Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon from racing each other, in the wake of their collision in Singapore.
Force India arrived in Singapore having amassed 32 points across the previous two events in Belgium and Italy to leap up to seventh in the standings.
Perez and Ocon both made it through to Q3 at Marina Bay as Force India was able to bring an upgrade package that had previously been delayed amid its off-track troubles.
Singapore Grand Prix: Race result | Drivers' standings | Constructors' standings
But the pair came to blows on the opening lap as they battled through Turn 3, resulting in Ocon being pushed into the wall, sustaining terminal damage.
“They didn’t leave each other enough room and the contact put Esteban into the wall,” said team boss Otmar Szafnauer.
“We will therefore reinstate the rules of engagement we operated last year after similar incidents, which means they cannot race each other.
“This disastrous race is all the more frustrating when you consider the speed we showed in qualifying and the opportunity that has passed us by.
“These painful lows are part of racing and it’s fair to say that there are very few positives to take from tonight apart from the car pace.
“We will have some discussions behind closed doors and will learn from what happened so that we can become stronger as a team.”
Force India previously instated such rules of engagement after a spate of clashes and tension between the duo in 2017, the most high-profile of which came in Belgium.
That mantra was ultimately relaxed, and continued into 2018, with the pair having avoided contact until Sunday’s opening lap in Singapore.
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