The French team, Alpine, in a surprising move decided to rally an all-French lineup for 2023. Even if it meant bringing together men who have not seen eye to eye for a long time. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, have been touted to get a French civil war rolling with the tumultuous history they have had. However, sadly, for everyone looking for an intra-team rivalry, the duo is not the ticking time bomb that the narratives have made them to be. The veteran at the Renault-owned outfit, Ocon, has come out with an olive branch saying that duo is a “joint number one” and promises a fun ride along the way.

The team which has been attacked for its complacency by the outgoing double world champion Fernando Alonso has been defended by the man who he left behind. Ocon feels that his compatriot Pierre Gasly is coming to the team at exactly the right time, as they are on an upward trajectory in terms of progress. And since both the Frenchmen on the team have the same target, i.e. to fight at the front, the journey will be fun.

As reported by Formula1.com, Ocon said, “Yeah, for sure. With Pierre, it’s going to be a great year. He’s joining the team in the right moment, in the moment that we are also going up [and] progressing.”

He further added, “We both have the same targets. We want to fight at the front, and I’m sure together we have a great story to write, together with this team.”

Read More: Fans’ Toxic Behavior Slammed After Pierre Gasly’s Girlfriend Kika Gomes Gets Bullied off Social Media: “Wrong & So Disrespectful”

From having the same targets to being from the same region, the Alpine duo has been more intertwined than what meets the eye.

“So happy” Esteban Ocon cannot wait to go racing with Pierre Gasly alongside him

“We were just two little kids from Normandy” Ocon termed the new lineup for the Alpine team. It still is rather poetic that the two boys from the same region of France would end up as teammates, of all places. And that too in a sport where only 20 people from across the globe make the final cut. Ocon himself is ecstatic about the destined turn of events.

Ocon said, “If people would have said one day, we would be racing for one of the top teams in F1, I think we would have been so happy when we were little kids, and now that is the case, so it’s more than awesome and I can’t wait to get started.”

Watch This Story: How Fast Can F1 Cars Go? Comparisons With MotoGP, IndyCar, NASCAR, and Formula E

What are your predictions for the Alpine duo? Do you think they can put their history behind them to hatch a solid bond?