I'm working harder than Perez - Ocon

Esteban Ocon says he has to work harder than Sergio Perez to be able to compete with his Force India teammate due to his lack of experience in Formula 1.

Following an impressive run of races for Manor at the end of last season – after replacing Rio Haryanto from the Belgian Grand Prix onward – Ocon was signed by Force India on a multi-year contract as a replacement for Nico Hulkenberg. The Frenchman has impressed, scoring points in 10 of the 11 races so far this season, but he says he has had to put in a lot of time at the team's factory in order to produce those results.

"I have to work very hard!" Ocon told the official Formula 1 website. "I have a lot less experience than Sergio so I have to catch up on so many details that come naturally to him. Before and after each race I am mostly in the factory for simulator work. I think that is what makes a big difference."

Asked how much more time he is having to put in than Perez, Ocon replied: "I don't want to say a number, so let's put it this way: a lot more!

"I hope [I've surprised him]. I am not here to stay behind him all the time. I want to push – very hard."

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After 11 races, Ocon (pictured at right, above, with Perez) currently sits in eighth place in the drivers' championship with 45 points, 11 points and one position behind his Mexican teammate. While neither driver scored in Monaco due to the car being less competitive, a collision between the teammates in Baku is the only other time Perez has failed to score, but Ocon says both drivers moved on from the incident quickly.

"I went to the factory right afterwards and the team said that it was a race incident and that we both made mistakes. Of course that shouldn't happen – but a race on such a track is close to a state of emergency.

"We have been told that we should be more careful in the future as it was not only his fault or only my fault. End of story."