Sergio Perez: Pressure will be on Esteban Ocon in 2018

Sergio Pérez says the focus and pressure will be on Force India team-mate Esteban Ocon in 2018, the Frenchman’s second full season in the sport, in the wake of his impressive 2017 campaign.

Mercedes-backed Ocon graduated to Formula 1 with Manor mid-2016, following previous tests with Renault/Lotus, and captured a move to Force India for 2017, amid Nico Hülkenberg’s departure.

Ocon emerged as a close match for Pérez through 2017, with the pair scoring the same amount of points from the Spanish Grand Prix onwards, despite a spate of mid-season clashes and tension.

“I certainly rate Esteban, I think he has a lot of talent, a lot of experience, he came to Formula 1 very well prepared,” said Pérez.

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“Since the first test he did with the team [in 2015] he was already quite mature, with a lot of knowledge behind him, he was straight away on the pace.

“He definitely did a really good job, there’s no secret that he’s a very good driver, and one of the drivers for the future, so I think it was a good challenge during the year.

“I think the pressure will be on him now as it’s a second year for him, everyone will expect big things from him, it will be again very close I think.”

When Pérez’s comments were put to Ocon, the 21-year-old played down such suggestions.

“I feel alright, if everyone is watching me for that it means people are expecting me to do well next year so that’s always positive,” Ocon said.

“But no, I don’t have more pressure, I will work the same way with the team, I’m very dedicated to it, will train the same way, not going to change much except that I’m for sure a different driver now than I was at the beginning of the year.

“I’ve been learning so much more, that will help me at the beginning of the year, also I know the tracks, I know Australia, China, Monaco, that will help me as well.”