Ocon reveals how Gasly quit football for racing as a kid

Esteban Ocon has revealed the pivotal role his family played in Pierre Gasly’s early racing career ahead of the latter’s Formula 1 debut in Malaysia this weekend.

Gasly will enter his first grand prix for Toro Rosso at Sepang in place of the dropped Daniil Kvyat, having won the GP2 title last year after rising through the junior ranks.

Gasly and Ocon have enjoyed similar career trajectories, both hailing from France and even fighting each other for the Formula Renault Eurocup title back in 2013, with their acquaintance dating back to when they were children.

Ocon revealed on Thursday in Malaysia that his parents played an instrumental role in Gasly getting his first taste of racing as a kid in a go-kart.

“He was playing football when he was very oyung, when we were seven or eight. Our parents were friends and he was playing football while I was driving go-karts,” Ocon said.

“My dad said to him to try my go-kart, and after that, he quit football for racing!”

Gasly addition to the grid lifts the French contingent of drivers up to three, joining Ocon and Haas racer Romain Grosjean.

With the French Grand Prix returning to the F1 calendar in 2018 and a greater driver presence, Ocon feels it is a good time for the sport in his home country.

“It is good. France is a very big country for motorsport and it really disappeared at some point which was quite sad,” Ocon said.

“But it is really good that it is coming back and back stronger. We also have the GP which is going to be free to view on the TV, so the interest is going to come up.”