Ocon: Gasly joining me as Alpine teammate is ‘great story’

The couple have had a rocky relationship in recent years. However, Ocon insists they can work together to help the team move forward and overcome past differences, a sentiment also shared 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 Motorsport.com if they will be able to work together, Ocon said: “Yes, 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 many fantastic memories with Pierre when we were children.

“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.”

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 couple already had a brief opportunity to talk: “We did. We did a photoshoot together. We had a few interviews. We spent some time chatting. Yeah, it’s gonna be fun.

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. The important thing for me is to keep the work that I do, the development, the new ground that we have brought to Singapore, I am also the leader of this coming.

“Fernando [Alonso] also gives his thoughts, I give mine, and it’s the work we do together that is important.

“Of course I will have the most experience, I know how the car works. But it’s important for the team to bring Pierre up very quickly.”