Force India: Better for fans if Perez and Ocon allowed to race

One of the most intriguing sub-plots of the 2017 Formula 1 season has been the 'civil war' between veteran Sergio Perez and (sort of) rookie Esteban Ocon at Force India.

Perez started the season with an edge over Ocon, but the young Frenchman started matching him by mid-season and right now seems to have a slight edge on the Mexican, but recently team orders have prevented them going toe-to-toe.

Such was the animosity between the two that team orders had to be applied to prevent them climbing over one another in races and costing the team points, while Ocon has been subject to death threats from Perez loyalists. But now that Force India have clinched fourth in the championship they are considering allowing their two drivers to slug it out again in the interest of F1 fans.

Asked if the rules of engagement between Perez and Ocon would be relaxed, chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer said, "That we've got to discuss internally, we still have a couple of weeks to decide. But I think it's better for the fans if they are allowed to race, but at the same time, car parts aren't cheap."

Collisions between the pair have cost the team money - Baku being a case in point - which they can ill-afford as their budget is down with the lowest (if not the lowest on the grid) making their fourth place in the championship a remarkable achievement under the circumstances. Also an example of shrewd management of their feuding drivers.

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Szafnauer explained, "You crash into each other and maybe have to buy some more for the last race. You have a test after in Abu Dhabi. So all those considerations have to come into play as well."

Perez hinted that team orders may fall away in the remaining two races of the season, "They have told us that they will let us race once we secure the fourth place. And I think it is important for Esteban and myself to show good trust, and that we can do good races between us."

He said about Ocon, "I did not think he would have such results in his first year. Even with a difficult car, Esteban still manages to go fast. That's one of his strengths and I have to learn from that," admitted the Mexican.

"Recently, he has also managed to improve a lot in qualifying, but for me it's good to have a teammate to push me to my limits. Because in today's F1, your teammate is your only reference," added Perez.