“We are never going to be best friends,” Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon open up about their relationship
Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon are ready to forget about their past in a bid to achieve success at Alpine.
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Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly
The Alpine F1 team made headlines after signing Pierre Gasly for 2023. Pierre has had a troubled past with incumbent Alpine driver, Esteban Ocon. Subsequently, fans speculated about the kind of relationship the pair would have as teammates. Even Gasly and Ocon’s families have been rumored not to be fond of one another. However, it seems that the two drivers will work together for the success of the French team.
Pierre Gasly was recently asked about the relationship between him and his new teammate. The two French drivers got to catch up after a long hiatus. They have talked more in the last few days than in the last decade.
The former Alpha Tauri driver appeared to be happy with the present set-up with his teammate. Pierre said, “I think it was very important and I’m pleased with the way things are going with Esteban.” Esteban Ocon has not been shy of expressing the state of his relations with Pierre Gasly. Previously Esteban has stated, “We are never going to be best friends.”
Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon form a controversial driver pairing
During the event, Pierre Gasly was quick to point out the new-found maturity in both drivers.“I think we are both grown-up people now, much more mature. Aware of the responsibilities that we have representing a team like Alpine with the Renault Group behind us.” Similarly, Esteban Ocon is confident that the two will aim to work in harmony for the benefit of the team. Ocon continued, “but the important thing is to keep the flow going together. Which creates debate and solutions with the team and that’s how it’s been in motorsport forever.”
Esteban Ocon later pointed out that teammates in F1 work as a team and find solutions to any issues the team faces. Ocon said, “The fact that the drivers work together and notify any issue or a way to work and the team comes up with some resolutions.” Correspondingly, Esteban mentioned that he and Pierre Gasly must set this as their main task. He said, “that’s what we need to try and get from our team to be able to fight at the front.”
Esteban Ocon will give his best to outclass Pierre Gasly
Esteban Ocon will not shy away from battling with Pierre Gasly on track. Ocon recently said, “I’m a racing driver, I’m competing to beat everyone.” Ocon stated this to be his way of competing ever since his karting days and credited this mentality as the reason behind his success. The 26-year-old said, “That’s how I’ve been racing my whole life and how I’ve succeeded and won titles in the past.”
Correspondingly, Ocon even mentioned this hunger for victory as a key factor in defeating Fernando Alonso as a teammate. Esteban said, “that’s how in the end, I beat Fernando as well, racing how I want to race.” Esteban Ocon concluded his statement by expressing his desire to out-score Pierre Gasly at Alpine. He continued, “For me, it’s important to score the points and work together with Pierre, that’s very important. But I want to fight anyone, and I believe I can fight anyone.”
Alpine needs its all-French line-up to perform in tandem if the team wants to achieve its target for the season. F1’s only French team aims to be a clear fourth in the championship this season before stepping up to the big three teams. Hence, Ocon and Gasly will need to maintain peace to help its team succeed at the pinnacle of motorsport.
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Armaan Agarwal
(2310 Articles Published)