Gasly will join the team next year from AlphaTauri to replace Fernando Alonso, who will join Aston Martin.
MORE: Why Red Bull freedom and an Alpine switch may define Gasly’s F1 career
Ocon and Gasly have had a difficult relationship in recent years, but the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix winner insists the pair can cooperate to help the team progress and overcome past differences, a sentiment also echoed by Gasly .
Ocon suggested the focus should be on how two riders who grew up together now ride for a brand that also hails from the same region.
Asked by Autosport if they will be able to work together, he replied: “Yeah, we will. And to be honest, I think it’s a great story to tell.
“I mean, we started karting together – it’s pretty crazy. I obviously have a lot of fantastic memories with Pierre when we were kids.
“And you know, we got a little lost. He was doing different championships, he went to Japan, I stayed in Europe, different teams, different times.
“But I think it would be great to collaborate together. Now there’s only me from Normandy, the three of us are from Normandy, me, Pierre and the brand.
“So if we can take this team to the top and get Normandy to win, that would be something special.”
Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon
Picture by: Alpine
He added: “I think there are great things we can create there. The minimum for us is to do a perfect job obviously for the team, and work well together. But I’m sure Everything will be alright.
“You always want to beat your teammate when you’re in F1. It’s the same rivalry you have with any teammate, because there’s no French championship, there’s no championship French/Spanish, so everything is fine.
Ocon said the pair had a brief chance to talk before: “We did, we had a photo shoot together, we had a few interviews. We spent some time chatting. Yeah, that’s fine. be funny.
He also played down any suggestion that his experience with the team would give him an initial advantage in terms of A523 development.
“It’s not something I really focus on too much,” Ocon said.
“The important thing for me is to keep the work that I do, the development, the new floor that we have brought to Singapore, I am also the leader of this coming.
“Fernando also gives his thoughts, I give mine, and it’s the work we bring together that is important.
“For sure I will have the most experience, I know how the car works. But it is important for the team to bring Pierre up to speed very quickly.
Gasly will join the team next year from AlphaTauri to replace Fernando Alonso, who will join Aston Martin.
MORE: Why Red Bull freedom and an Alpine switch may define Gasly’s F1 career
Ocon and Gasly have had a difficult relationship in recent years, but the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix winner insists the pair can cooperate to help the team progress and overcome past differences, a sentiment also echoed by Gasly .
Ocon suggested the focus should be on how two riders who grew up together now ride for a brand that also hails from the same region.
Asked by Autosport if they will be able to work together, he replied: “Yeah, we will. And to be honest, I think it’s a great story to tell.
“I mean, we started karting together – it’s pretty crazy. I obviously have a lot of fantastic memories with Pierre when we were kids.
“And you know, we got a little lost. He was doing different championships, he went to Japan, I stayed in Europe, different teams, different times.
“But I think it would be great to collaborate together. Now there’s only me from Normandy, the three of us are from Normandy, me, Pierre and the brand.
“So if we can take this team to the top and get Normandy to win, that would be something special.”
Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon
Picture by: Alpine
He added: “I think there are great things we can create there. The minimum for us is to do a perfect job obviously for the team, and work well together. But I’m sure Everything will be alright.
“You always want to beat your teammate when you’re in F1. It’s the same rivalry you have with any teammate, because there’s no French championship, there’s no championship French/Spanish, so everything is fine.
Ocon said the pair had a brief chance to talk before: “We did, we had a photo shoot together, we had a few interviews. We spent some time chatting. Yeah, that’s fine. be funny.
He also played down any suggestion that his experience with the team would give him an initial advantage in terms of A523 development.
“It’s not something I really focus on too much,” Ocon said.
“The important thing for me is to keep the work that I do, the development, the new floor that we have brought to Singapore, I am also the leader of this coming.
“Fernando also gives his thoughts, I give mine, and it’s the work we bring together that is important.
“For sure I will have the most experience, I know how the car works. But it is important for the team to bring Pierre up to speed very quickly.