Sergio Perez says he and Esteban Ocon had a “flat” relationship as Force India team-mates, in the wake of the Frenchman’s departure from the squad.
Perez was joined by Ocon at Force India for 2017 and the pair clashed on-track on numerous occasions, prompting team orders to be issued, and souring their off-track relationship.
The pair had fewer fiery moments through 2018 though still came to blows in Singapore, with contact resulting in Ocon’s race ending in the wall after just three corners.
Perez will stay at Force India – now renamed Racing Point – for 2019 while Ocon has relinquished his drive to Lance Stroll and will instead spend the year as Mercedes’ reserve driver.
“To be honest, it was never great, the greatest one,” he said of their relationship.
“We are both very professional, we didn’t spend a lot of time [with each other] out of the car, so it was quite flat.
“I’ll say that with my past team-mates, there was more of an outside relationship.
“I’ve had [a good relationship] before, with [Nico] Hulkenberg. It’s always hard, we are so competitive, and also when you are not team-mates anymore, the relationship all of a sudden gets a bit better.
“There are drivers that cannot separate what is racing and outside of the car. Everyone is different.”
Ocon headed the qualifying battle this year but Perez led the way in the final championship standings, taking 62 points to the 49 amassed by Ocon.
“In qualifying, he probably had the upper hand, although the gap between us in qualifying is less than a tenth, he was more often in front in qualifying than myself,” said Perez.
“But I think the gap in the races was bigger than in qualifying. In the races I did the biggest difference, always on pace, the pace was looking a bit stronger.
“It was very close again, but I think he was slightly better in qualifying, and I was quite a bit better in the race.”
