Il_leone
World Champion
I was surprised that there was no thread between these evenly matched teammates given the number of incidents thus far and it was suggested that Ocon could beat Perez this season
Current stats between the two
Perez
129 races
7 podiums - best finish 2nd Malaysia 2012
4 fastest laps
423 points
Best championship finish 7th - 2016
No junior titles - best finish 2nd - 2010 GP2 Series behind Pastor Maldonado
Backed by Telmex
Once part of Ferrari's academy programme but dropped out when Mclaren suddenly offered him the chance to replace Hamilton which he took. He immediately slumped to scoring zero points for 6 races in 2012 and made the wrong noises initially at Mclaren in 2013 bashing into at least one world champion in his first 5 races. The car was not a race winner and he got constantly outperformed by Button as the season wore on and was dropped suddenly by Mclaren after simulation tests showed he was slower than Kevin Magnussen who replaced him.
Having rebuilt his reputation at Force India as a more steady driver who can pick up points and podiums and outscoring the highly rated Hulkenberg. He has gone back to his earlier incarnation of being more robust and aggressive racer and bashing into his teammate often.
He harbours ambitions of deserving a top seat - having rejected the Renault deal last year and hoping to get a shot at the Ferrari seat for 2018 citing lack of leadership at Enstone but a great driver ought to be able to lead his team through difficulties and get them focused together right? So he did not want the challenge so it seems
It looks like that has passed him now and he may not get another chance at a top seat and is now fighting to save his reputation and stock falling further to his younger teammate but his career could be rooted to the midfield despite the influence of his backers
Ocon
21 races
0 podiums - best finish 5th this year
0 fastest laps
47 points
First full season in F1
Euro F3 champion 2014
GP3 Champion 2015
Backed by Mercedes
Very highly rated in the paddock and has plenty of years ahead of him to be France's next world champion although LeClerc might have say in the matter.
An impressive junior career with Euro F3 title that included defeating a certain Max Verstappen who is still miffed to this day he got beaten by Ocon which could set up a future rivalry in F1 if both end up in top cars
Such is his potential Mercedes refused to let him race for Renault who previously have been supporting his career to show how much they want him as their man. Having joined Manor in the 2nd half of the season and performed well enough to be given the nod over his Mercedes junior teammate and rival Wehrlein, Esteban's career is definitely on the up all he needs is a podium to get him to the next level
He has had chances to score podiums this year but it seems somehow it is his teammate who has denied that chance not a rival or another driver.
Having accused of not being assertive enough at Montreal when on fresher tyres with the team .. it seems like he has adopted a much more bolder aggressive racing from then on when he sees his teammate which seems to always end in tears for the team
The Force India management are at fault for their drivers misbehaving and it does stem back to Montreal where Perez thinking he could get a podium cost his teammate and the team valuable points and a podium
Now there is a suggestion that if they don't behave they will be face a race ban from the team which would give Alfonso Celis Jr an opportunity possibly... I wonder if the team had to ban either driver at the Mexican GP would they dare do so to Perez seeing he is the face of all the promotions relating to the event or keep their sponsors happy and ban Ocon so they get two Mexican drivers for that race
The question is will they be teammates next year... it seems like Ocon after showing a bit more anger has calmed down knowing full well getting angry with his teammate is not going to help land a future Mercedes drive
Current stats between the two
Perez
129 races
7 podiums - best finish 2nd Malaysia 2012
4 fastest laps
423 points
Best championship finish 7th - 2016
No junior titles - best finish 2nd - 2010 GP2 Series behind Pastor Maldonado
Backed by Telmex
Once part of Ferrari's academy programme but dropped out when Mclaren suddenly offered him the chance to replace Hamilton which he took. He immediately slumped to scoring zero points for 6 races in 2012 and made the wrong noises initially at Mclaren in 2013 bashing into at least one world champion in his first 5 races. The car was not a race winner and he got constantly outperformed by Button as the season wore on and was dropped suddenly by Mclaren after simulation tests showed he was slower than Kevin Magnussen who replaced him.
Having rebuilt his reputation at Force India as a more steady driver who can pick up points and podiums and outscoring the highly rated Hulkenberg. He has gone back to his earlier incarnation of being more robust and aggressive racer and bashing into his teammate often.
He harbours ambitions of deserving a top seat - having rejected the Renault deal last year and hoping to get a shot at the Ferrari seat for 2018 citing lack of leadership at Enstone but a great driver ought to be able to lead his team through difficulties and get them focused together right? So he did not want the challenge so it seems
It looks like that has passed him now and he may not get another chance at a top seat and is now fighting to save his reputation and stock falling further to his younger teammate but his career could be rooted to the midfield despite the influence of his backers
Ocon
21 races
0 podiums - best finish 5th this year
0 fastest laps
47 points
First full season in F1
Euro F3 champion 2014
GP3 Champion 2015
Backed by Mercedes
Very highly rated in the paddock and has plenty of years ahead of him to be France's next world champion although LeClerc might have say in the matter.
An impressive junior career with Euro F3 title that included defeating a certain Max Verstappen who is still miffed to this day he got beaten by Ocon which could set up a future rivalry in F1 if both end up in top cars
Such is his potential Mercedes refused to let him race for Renault who previously have been supporting his career to show how much they want him as their man. Having joined Manor in the 2nd half of the season and performed well enough to be given the nod over his Mercedes junior teammate and rival Wehrlein, Esteban's career is definitely on the up all he needs is a podium to get him to the next level
He has had chances to score podiums this year but it seems somehow it is his teammate who has denied that chance not a rival or another driver.
Having accused of not being assertive enough at Montreal when on fresher tyres with the team .. it seems like he has adopted a much more bolder aggressive racing from then on when he sees his teammate which seems to always end in tears for the team
The Force India management are at fault for their drivers misbehaving and it does stem back to Montreal where Perez thinking he could get a podium cost his teammate and the team valuable points and a podium
Now there is a suggestion that if they don't behave they will be face a race ban from the team which would give Alfonso Celis Jr an opportunity possibly... I wonder if the team had to ban either driver at the Mexican GP would they dare do so to Perez seeing he is the face of all the promotions relating to the event or keep their sponsors happy and ban Ocon so they get two Mexican drivers for that race
The question is will they be teammates next year... it seems like Ocon after showing a bit more anger has calmed down knowing full well getting angry with his teammate is not going to help land a future Mercedes drive
