Force India's Esteban Ocon labelled the Mexican Grand Prix as the "worst" of his Formula 1 career, having failed to score points in a race that involved two clashes with rivals.
Ocon started on the red-marked Supersoft tyre with the aim of going deep into the race and made a strong getaway off the line from 11th, enabling him to pass both Sauber drivers and challenge the Renault duo.
Unfortunately for the Frenchman, he tangled with Nico Hulkenberg into Turn 3 and lost parts of his front wing, necessitating an unscheduled trip to the pit lane and a subsequent change of strategy.
The Mercedes-backed driver believes the team had a superior strategy in place and fast enough car to have challenged in a much higher position, as he came home in 11th place..
"This has been probably the worst race of my whole Formula 1 career so far," said Ocon. "Nothing went our way and it’s just been a terrible afternoon.
"I made a very good start, managed to pass the two Saubers on the run down to Turn 1, but that’s pretty much the only positive to take from the race.
"I went alongside Nico [Hulkenberg] in turn three but I saw he was going to turn in. I braked to avoid a collision, but we still made contact and it broke my front wing.
"I had to pit at the end of the first lap and my race was effectively over. It’s a shame because we had a good strategy and a fast car, but it was not our day.
"Let’s just forget about this race and come back stronger in Brazil."
Team-mate Sergio Perez failed to reach the finish due to a brake failure, compounding a wretched race for Force India.
