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Kart: two former French racers join a French F1 team
Reportagem: KartCom Selection

Two French drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, in a French F1 team, Alpine, is enough to warm the French spirits. The news, announced during the Japanese Grand Prix, is fuelling an already lively market in the run-up to the end of the season. Beyond the alleged hostility between the two drivers, which is far from factual despite the numerous reports on the subject, their respective paths to a very high level in F1 are more interesting to consider, with similarities and differences.

Both born in 1997, from Normandy, they made their beginnings in karting on the same circuit of Anneville near Rouen and also liked to frequent the circuit of Essay Aunay-les-Bois. Our older readers will appreciate the analogy with the credits of the TV series "The Persuaders" illustrating the careers of Danny Wilde (Tony Curtis) and Brett Sinclair (Roger Moore).

The two Normans climbed the ladder of French karting in Minikart, Minime and Cadet. Esteban successively won the French Minime Championship in 2007 and the Cadet Championship in 2008, while Pierre quickly progressed to the front. It is worth noting that they were both driving Sodi chassis at the time. The meetings they had at this stage and the support they received from professionals who were as discreet as they were efficient were decisive. The transition to the next level, in Junior, took place in a different way.

In KF3, Pierre continued mainly in the French Championship while Esteban devoted himself fully to international competition. However, always loyal to Sodikart, Gasly finished 3rd in the 2009 KF3 World Cup in Sarno before winning the French Championship in 2010, while Esteban won the French Cup for KF3 in Val d'Argenton. Pierre turned to single-seaters in 2011, a choice that was criticized at the time for its precocity, but which made sense thanks to the French F4 Championship. After a final season in KF3 crowned by the title of French KF3 Champion, Esteban left karting for single-seaters in 2012 via Formula Renault 2.0.

A Lotus F1 Team junior driver thanks to Gravity Sport Management, Esteban then returned to Toto Wolff's fold with his 2014 European F3 Championship title against Max Verstappen. Pierre had gained the support of the FFSA Academy by finishing 3rd in the French F4 Championship in 2011. Red Bull followed him closely and after his success in GP2, opened the doors to F1 with Toro Rosso then Alpha Tauri. He took his first F1 victory at Monza in 2020. Esteban entered F1 first with Manor then Force India before being recruited by Renault F1 in 2020. He took the top step of the podium at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix with Alpine F1.

Pure talent, a fierce desire to succeed and the support of major partners are the common features of these two extraordinary careers, which will be combined in the same team from next season. Formula 1 continues to sell dreams to young people all over the world. A solid apprenticeship in karting is not optional in this unforgiving world. In this respect, the role of a federation such as the FFSA, through its karting championships and its pathway to the top level, constitutes a major contribution. Théo Pourchaire, Victor Martins and Isack Hadjar are there to confirm it.

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