As the 2018 Formula One season rapidly approaches, it’s time to compare the Force India teammates. Force India ran the same driver lineup in 2017 as they will run in 2018, so statistics should give us a fairly good idea of what the teammates will perform like in 2018.
Esteban Ocon made the move from the defunct Manor Racing team to Force India in 2017, racing alongside Sergio Perez. There was some tension between the teammates at various points throughout the season, with close calls and contact that we would expected to see between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes in the past seasons.
The tension could have been fueled partly by the equal performance between the drivers. The pair both had the same average finish of P7.9 once you exclude each of their one retirements in 2017. The pair were also close in points, with just 13 points separating Ocon from the leading Perez.
However, Perez had a clear advantage in the qualifying pace and race performance. He outqualified Ocon in 13 of the 20 races in 2017, which he managed to outrace him 12 times. The duo is still quite close and should be entertaining to watch in 2018.
