“What was the probability that two six-year-old kids from Normandy, France, living 20 minutes from each other, would end up 20 years later as teammates in a French team? I think that is incredible and a very special story.” This is what Pierre Gasly had to say when he joined Alpine at the start of this season. The ‘teammate’ he’s referring to is Esteban Ocon. It’s no secret that there was no love lost between them early in their careers. It’s also no secret that they used to be really close, but as they climbed the motorsport ladder, things turned sour between them. The question is: Are they better now?

Considering their falling-out happened when they were just juniors, you would think they’d have gotten past it now. Per Gasly, their relationship has thawed since joining F1, but will they be best friends anytime soon? Unlikely. 

Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon’s relationship is very “formal”

Alpine has been going through a turbulent phase this season. Apart from all the off-track turbulence with the management shake-up, Gasly and Ocon have also been at odds at times. They’ve had on-track collisions in Melbourne and Budapest. And who can forget Gasly’s rage when he was asked to let Ocon pass him on the final lap of the Japanese GP? Simply put, their relationship isn’t getting any better than it was when Gasly joined Ocon at the Enstone-Viry team.

Remember Pierre Gasly at AlphaTauri, and how good his relationship with Yuki Tsunoda was? Their healthy partnership helped the team perform better as a whole. As much as they were rivals, they became really good friends even off the track. Can you imagine things playing out like that at Alpine? While Gasly can possibly picture a healthy partnership at least on track, he sure can’t picture one off it.

Gasly was featured on F1’s Beyond The Grid Podcast recently. In conversation with host Tom Clarkson, he opened up about his current relationship with Ocon. He said, “We don’t spend much time together. But when we get to the track, then we are at work. We are mature, responsible and we are delivering. In terms of a working relationship, it’s very formal between us. But that’s all I can ask because, at the end of the day, I just want to be competitive.” It’s like balancing on a knife edge—the relationship is neither good nor bad. “I know Esteban won’t invite me for dinner, but I’m fine with that,” added Gasly.

Read More: “If You See Me Crying…”: Pierre Gasly’s Triumph Over Unexpected Handicap in Brazil GP Left Closest Ally Awestruck

The Alpine drivers’ relationship may be a question mark. What isn’t a question mark is the intent to beat each other, something Gasly expressed his happiness about, seeing as he has edged out Ocon in a battle this year.

Pierre Gasly feels he’s on the right path at Alpine

Joining a new team and getting used to it is never easy. When Gasly joined Alpine this season, he wasn’t sure how Ocon would welcome him. But it hasn’t been too bad between them. That was one thing he was worried about. The other thing—which every driver feels the need to do—was beating his teammate over a season. Considering this is Ocon’s fifth season with the French outfit and only Gasly’s first, he wanted more than anything to beat Ocon. Coming into the Brazilian GP, he had already gotten the better of Ocon in qualifying, leading 12-7.

On Beyond The Grid, he was asked if beating Ocon was important. He said, “Against your teammate, it’s the person that you can compare directly inside the team. So it’s always important. I knew it would not be an easy one. I knew it would take time and time is not what I really like. I’m not patient and I really wanted things to work straight away. But it took a few races and now I feel like we’re getting on the right path.”

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What’s your take on Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon’s partnership?