F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Perez hoping for 'a change of attitude' from Ocon

Force India's Sergio Perez is still wound up over his on-track clash with Esteban Ocon in Baku, but hopes his team mate has learned from the costly incident.

The pair collided in Azerbaijan after a Safety Car restart and while Ocon was able to race on and finish in the points, Perez was force into a painful retirement.

Both drivers had talks with the team's management before this weekend's Austrian GP but Perez now appears clear on where he stands.

"What happened in Baku was totally unacceptable from a team point of view, that's the feedback I got from the team," Perez told the media at the Red Bull Ring.

"In all my experience I've had with my team-mates the competition was always really intense but never to that extent and never to unnecessarily crashing into each other.

"I gave him enough room to do the manoeuvre, he was already ahead, and there was no need at all to ruin our races.

"At the end of the day it's the team that pays the price."

Force India has insisted that both drivers still remain free to race each other, and Perez does not believe team orders will be necessary, as long as Ocon gets a firm grasp on what is at stake.

"That's not needed. Simply, Esteban has to understand what racing means.

"I expect him to be intelligent enough to understand what he did wrong and change his attitude a bit for the benefit of the team.

"Racing means just racing another car, not crashing into another car. Pretty much all the team-mates on the grid are free to race and with respect to the other car.

"In four years with Nico [Hulkenberg] we never had an issue. We were free to race, we had big battles on track, but we were always free to race.

"As long as Esteban understands what racing means that should be clear."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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