Perez risked my life - Ocon

Esteban Ocon has accused teammate Sergio Perez of risking his life in the collisions between the two Force Indias during the Belgian Grand Prix.

Fighting with Nico Hulkenberg, Perez moved across on Ocon at the start of the race on the approach to Eau Rouge, with the Frenchman touching the wall and his teammate's wheels, briefly getting airborne but emerging ahead. Later in the race, Ocon was attempting to overtake Perez at the same place when the latter moved across and the ensuing contact broke Ocon's front wheel and left Perez with a puncture (pictured).

Asked if Perez knew he was alongside him, Ocon replied: "Of course he knew.

Related Stories

"I accept the first one. We are three wide and maybe he didn't see me – even if I think he saw me – but the second one is just one too much. You know, risking our life for nothing. He risked my life in there at 300kph down to Eau Rouge. That's the first thing. The second thing is we lost a lot of points; he is supposed to be a professional driver and today he didn't show it. He has never done that with other teammates, I don't know why he is doing it with me."

Ocon said he would be speaking to Perez in person, adding he was unsure if the relationship between the two is irreparable.

"The thing for sure is that I am going to speak to him man-to-man, and tell him the truth. He is going to have a child, I don't know if he wants to die or something... it is just ridiculous."

Perez, however, insisted he "had no idea" where his teammate was heading down to Eau Rouge at the start of the race, but admits he did know Ocon's position the second time they collided.

"The problems came when I didn't select the right start mode, so I have 50 percent of power. I made quite a good start but then everyone overtook me back. I lost everything, but then I looked in the mirrors on the exit of the corner and all the people were far behind. But then I moved to the right and Esteban was there. That was 100 percent my fault.

Of the second collision, Perez said: "I knew he was there, but I also knew there was no more space to go, so I just protected my line.

"I thought he was going to make the move after Eau Rouge – you have so many meters afterwards to do that move. I didn't do anything different that I would have done to any other driver."

When Ocon's comments about risking their lives were put to Perez, the Mexican replied: "I think probably the first one, he feels that I risked a little bit on purpose.

"That's why probably on the second one he came and the contact [happened], probably. The first one was as I said totally my fault. I apologize for that one. But then the second one, he was too optimistic. There was no need to touch there."

Force India's chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer told Sky Sports that the team intends to act to prevent any more such incidents between its drivers.

"In the future they'll never have that opportunity again," Szafnauer said. "We've let them race up until now. If they can't do it in a manner which is good for the team, then they won't be racing anymore."