Force India: Perez/Ocon clash was "inevitable"

The pair came together in an attrition-heavy Baku race, their collision proving costly as both had been in podium contention before the incident.

Fernley believes that the collision in Azerbaijan was the price the team had to pay for having two very competitive drivers.

“I think it was inevitable, the Baku incident,” Fernley told Motorsport.com. “We’ve got an incredibly talented established driver, and we’ve got an incredibly talented young pretender.

"It was inevitable that we were going to get a clash there at some point. It came when it came, and it shows how competitive they both are.

“It’s elbows out for both of them for a couple of races while they find themselves, and get themselves positioned. It’s what you’d expect.

"And what we need from them going forward is to just respect each other, and make sure they don’t make contact with each other in a way that could be deemed one of their faults. All we’re looking for is respect.”

Despite the Baku incident having followed a tense situation in Canada - where the team also missed out on a potential podium - Fernley continued to insist the use of team orders to diffuse the situation was not on the agenda.

“In terms of team orders, we can’t change that," he said. "We have a very clear policy in Force India, where the lead driver gets preference. You can’t change that halfway through a race because it suits you.

"Most teams operate that way, and unless we impose a number one/number two driver situation, which is not our policy, then that’s the way it will continue onwards. So from my side, we let them race.”

Fernley is confident that Perez and Ocon now understand where the limits are: “I think they’re sensible enough, and they’ve had their positioning of each other, making sure that neither of them will give way. They know that, now they need to get on and race.

“They know it damages them as well as it damages the team. We’ve got to give them the support and the belief that we have in both of them as top quality drivers, and they’ve now got to respond to that in a positive way, and respect each other and deliver for the team, and eventually for themselves.”