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Ocon reveals he gave Gasly first kart chance

Esteban Ocon has revealed how he helped give then-football-mad Pierre Gasly his first outing in a go-kart, as the pair reunite on track at this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Jonathan Noble

Edited: Sep 28, 2017, 10:57 AM

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(L to R): Esteban Ocon, Manor Racing with Pierre Gasly, Red Bull Racing Third Driver

Gasly will make his Formula 1 debut at this weekend's Malaysian GP as temporary replacement for Daniil Kvyat, with Toro Rosso eager to evaluate his potential as it considers its options for 2018.

The Frenchman is initially expected to do the next two races, with Kvyat returning at the United States Grand Prix, but could do more races later in the campaign if Toro Rosso is impressed.

Ocon is well aware that it will be a big pressure moment for Gasly, having been there when his fellow countryman got his first taste of a go kart.

"When he was very young, maybe seven or eight, my parents were friends together with his parents," said Ocon.

"I was driving go-karts one day, and he was there playing football. So my dad said, 'Why don't you try Esteban's go kart?' And after that he quit football!

"So from the beginning of my career we've known each other basically."

Ocon has first-hand experience of how tough it is making your F1 debut in the middle of the year, having been drafted in with Manor from last year's Belgian Grand Prix.

And while he acknowledged that it was not easy coming in the middle of the year, he said that racing at circuits like Malaysia and Suzuka were better.

"It is tough, definitely," said Ocon about joining during the season. "But it is tough when you arrive to tracks like Singapore and tracks like that.

"Arriving here is not the worst, so there will be places where you can be fast but there are places where you lack experience and can struggle. I think that is my point of view."

Asked about whether the pressure was more intense when you know you need to impress quickly, he smiled: "With the Red Bull programme… I think so!"

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