Ocon was shedding floor on his fading delicate tyres when Hulkenberg tried to go him on the exit of Flip 1, and Perez in flip drew alongside the Haas as they approached the Flip 2 left-hander.
With Ocon on the within, Hulkenberg was caught in a sandwich between the 2 vehicles. After contact from the Haas, Ocon was despatched spinning throughout Hulkenberg’s bows and into Perez’s Pink Bull.
Perez and Ocon ended their races within the gravel entice, whereas Hulkenberg was obliged to retire after getting his broken automobile again to the pits.
“It was flawed place, flawed time,” mentioned Perez, who will begin Sunday’s Grand Prix from thirteenth, when requested by Autosport concerning the incident.
“The race did not begin significantly effectively as a result of we have been on the medium tyre, it was very low grip to start out the race on that tyre.
“We have been recovering, we have been making good progress, however sadly as I used to be making extra progress we had this contact and I paid the worth, I had large harm on my automobile.
“It has been a really irritating day, however tomorrow it is a new alternative and we are going to give our greatest.”
Ocon mentioned he didn’t know that Perez was alongside Hulkenberg as he tried to defend his place and labelled the crash a racing incident.
“We had the delicate tyres, so we began very effectively,” mentioned Ocon. “We made up some good locations from P10 to P7, some good fights with Fernando [Alonso] additionally.
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A523
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“Sadly we have been dropping again, and we have been extra on the defensive facet than the attacking facet, and clearly we had that incident after we have been three abreast.
“I bought a contact on the rear proper, the following factor I see after I opened the eyes is I am within the gravel.
“It’s clear that I noticed Nico, I knew he was there, however it’s inconceivable for me at that time to see Sergio on the precise facet. Three abreast is just not a good suggestion on that nook sadly, so I believe it is a racing incident.”
Hulkenberg mentioned he might see Perez coming, and tried in useless to get out of the way in which.
“All of it occurred in a short time, very unlucky,” mentioned the German.
“I used to be attacking Esteban into Flip 1 after which on the surface line, little or no grippy with the sand, however undercut him after which had an excellent exit out of Flip 1 and sort of side-by-side a bit of bit into Flip 2.
“And I used to be clearly racing him, and primarily seeing him, after which I noticed Checo showing very late.
“And I knew it was going to get very pointy and tight. I attempted to bail out, however it was too late. So, yeah, very unlucky for all three of us.”
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Workforce, on the grid along with his engineer
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Hulkenberg acknowledged that Ocon couldn’t have seen Perez alongside.
“I wish to give him the blame!” he mentioned of the Frenchman.
“However I believe on this case, we won’t, as a result of I do not assume he was in a position to see Checo. And subsequently he in all probability thought I had area to maneuver extra to the precise.
“A type of issues, however irritating as a result of I believe right this moment with the medium it was trying good for us.
“I believe we have been we might have scored one or two factors. And clearly that is very irritating for us.”
Further reporting by Matt Kew