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Sergio Perez admits that Esteban Ocon was the quicker driver in qualifying throughout the 2018 season, but declares himself as the better of the pair during the race.
Out of the 21 races, Ocon out-qualified Perez 16 times, with the average gap at the end of the year reading -0.448s in favour of the Mercedes junior driver.
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However, Perez finished 12 points ahead of his teammate in the driver's standings, with the Mexican ending up in eighth place, one spot behind the 'best of the rest' position.
"I think in qualifying he probably had the upper hand although the gap between us in qualifying is less than a tenth," Perez said. "He was more often in front in quali than myself. But I think the gap in the race is much bigger than qualifying."
"In the race I thought I did the bigger difference, always on the pace, the pace was a bit stronger in the race," the 28-year-old added. "We were very close again but as you say I think he was just a little bit better in qualifying and I was quite a bit better in the race.
Perez managed to bag a podium finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while Ocon's wait for his first continues. The Frenchman won't achieve it in 2019 however, as he will sit on the sidelines after being ousted at the Silverstone squad by Lance Stroll.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
I. Hadjar
A. Antonelli
C. Leclerc
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Replies (4)
Login to replyblade
Posts: 341
Knives are out....
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
Unfortunately for Ocon they don't give out points on Saturdays. It was fun watching them race though.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Pérez is right. I remember Jarno Trulli was also a very good qualifier. But he was just an average driver. In the case of Pérez and Ocon the differential would matter if it was significant, like Leclerc and Ericsson.
I really hope the money Force India got will push them close to the front of the grid. Perez could do wonders with properly fast car.
k.gandhiin
Posts: 17
Checo is without any doubt master of tyre management. He very easily beat Hulk in 2015 & 2016 seasons and did the same Ocon. And he will do the same with Stroll, in fact Stroll will be decimated in 2019 if he doesn't qualify better than Checo.