Perez and Ocon to stay in unchanged Force India line-up for 2018

2018 F1 season

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Force India will retain both Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon for the 2018 season, the team has confirmed.

Ocon had already been confirmed on a multi-year deal but Perez has re-committed to the team he joined in 2014 for another year. This is despite a series of contentious incidents involving the two which has prompted the team to impose team orders on the pair for the remaining races this year.

“Sergio has played an important role in our success story over the last few years,” said team co-owner Vijay Mallya. “Since joining us in 2014, he has matured to become one of the quickest and most consistent drivers on the grid.”

“His track record speaks for itself as the most successful Force India driver ever with four podiums. Alongside Esteban, retaining Sergio gives us stability going into next season and one of the most exciting driver pairings in Formula One.”

Perez said it was his “priority” to stay at Force India, which is on course to finish fourth in the constructors’ championship for the second year in a row.

“It’s a team that has allowed me to show my talents as a driver and I feel very happy here,” he said.

“I’m proud of everything we have already achieved together and I think there is more to come. The team has done an amazing job this year to develop the car and establish our position as the fourth best team in Formula One. In the end it was an easy decision to continue our journey together.”

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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7 comments on “Perez and Ocon to stay in unchanged Force India line-up for 2018”

  1. Well I’m sure in Occons second year he will definitely put Perez in the shade now.

  2. No live forum launch today?

    1. beat me to it, what’s up?

  3. In other words, Perez didn’t get the job at Renault and Williams.

    1. @peartree Perez probably signed as soon as he read about the STR/Honda/Renault/Sainz confirmation, wouldn’t you say?

      1. Yeah, RAI & SAI/Renault froze the midfield. Imagine the potential silly season had Raikkonen, Massa, and Alonso announced retirement, with McLaren-Honda remaining together.

  4. I don’t think so, check his carrier graph with force india without having a greet deal he is not going anywhere as force india promising 4th place contender for next year also, so its a smart move to stay here see the situation of hulkenberg moving to 7th ranked team from 4th.

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