Gasly on the friendship and fallout behind his rivalry with Ocon
Pierre Gasly opens up about his deeply personal rivalry with Esteban Ocon, tracing it from a close childhood friendship in karting to a fractured relationship in F1. He reveals how a specific incident caused a dramatic fallout, yet acknowledges their competitive push led to a poignant shared podium in Brazil before Ocon's departure from Alpine.
Pierre Gasly reflects on his complex relationship with Esteban Ocon, describing a deep childhood friendship forged in karting that ultimately fractured under the intense pressure of Formula 1 competition. Their story, which recently saw a poignant high point with a shared podium in Brazil, is a unique blend of personal history and professional rivalry.
Why it matters:
The Gasly-Ocon dynamic is one of the most personal narratives in modern F1, illustrating how childhood bonds can both fuel and complicate a driver's journey to the top. Their ability to achieve a significant team result despite years of tension offers a rare glimpse into the human relationships that exist beneath the sport's competitive surface.
The details:
- Their bond was built during weekly visits to each other's homes in Normandy, creating a foundation of trust long before F1.
- A specific, undisclosed racing incident marked a "turning point" where their friendship "fell apart in a dramatic way," a fracture that followed them into their F1 careers.
- Becoming teammates at Alpine in 2023-24 reignited their rivalry, highlighted by a collision at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix.
- Gasly acknowledges the rivalry was a "double-edged sword," creating friction but also pushing both drivers "beyond our potential."
- The 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix served as an emotional capstone, with the duo securing a double podium for Alpine—a result Gasly calls "very special" and one he will remember long after his career.
The big picture:
Their story transcends typical driver rivalries. It began with two children sharing a dream and evolved through the strains of professional ambition. With Ocon moving to Haas for 2025, their chapter as teammates has closed on a high note. Gasly holds a long-term view, expressing confidence that time will eventually allow them to reconcile fully, suggesting that in 10 or 20 years they will be able to "talk things through in a different way." For now, it remains a defining, unfinished tale of Formula 1.