FRANCE: Alpine Formula 1 team backed the French duo of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly to resolve their rivalry ahead of the pairs team-up in an All-French driver line-up for the 2023 Formula 1 season.
Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon have a long-standing grudge since their karting days
Alpine’s CEO, Laurent Rossi, explained that the previous rivalry between Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon would not affect the working relationship between the duo in the upcoming season.
The Alpine team expect both drivers to work collaboratively and carry the team forward. Rossi made it clear that there would be no hierarchy within the team. He added that even now, there are none between the experienced Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon, maintaining that both drivers had an equal status within the team.
The rivalry between Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly isn’t a secret within the Formula 1 paddock. However, the reason behind the beginning of the interpersonal rivalry between the two Formula 1 drivers is unknown. The common saying is that the grudge began developing between the two during their karting days.
Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon have one Formula 1 race win under their belts each. Both are technically sound drivers who have performed well in the last couple of seasons with their respective teams.
It remains to be seen which driver is the faster out of the two since they haven’t raced each other in Formula 1 with equal machinery. However, both drivers have proven their mettle in the midfield.
Pierre Gasly had held on to a historic Formula 1 win at Monza in 2020, keeping the charging McLaren of Carlos Sainz at bay, while Esteban Ocon fended off Sebastian Vettel to clinch his first Formula 1 win at the dramatic 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Alpine will need both drivers to work together to push the team up the Formula 1 grid and challenge for wins and podiums.
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