Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon share the French flag on the grid. The two even shared their karting days, but it’s well-known that the compatriots do not get along with each other. Pierre explicitly stated: “we’re not friends.” But why not? What made things sour between the old friends for a duo that could potentially have a powerful bond?
They started their karting careers with the same engine manufacturers, which helped kick-start their friendship on the track. Gasly recalled the times they spent karting as children. Gasly found a brother in Ocon when they were kids.
Gasly says the relationship started going downhill in 2009 during the Bridgestone Cup. Gasly tried to overtake Ocon on the last corner of the final lap, battling for P3; the two made contact in the process, which resulted in Ocon finishing fourth with Gasly ahead of him.
Time hasn’t healed Gasly’s wound as he said, “I was waiting [for] apologies on his side, which never really came, so there’s not much I can do.” Gasly states Ocon disappointed him and wished to have some sort of mutual respect between the two; which was unfortunately lost.
While the two respect each other as drivers and just hold on to the times they spent together when they were young. Gasly is proud to see both of them competing in the big league, but unfortunately, they don’t celebrate those achievements together.