Two F1 rivals involved in an infamous feud raised eyebrows as they were spotted sitting together watching PSG vs Liverpool in the Champions League alongside a jaw-dropping blonde model
11:49, 09 Apr 2026Updated 11:57, 09 Apr 2026
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 01: Esteban Ocon of France and BWT Alpine F1 Team (L) and Pierre Gasly of France and BWT Alpine F1 Team (R) during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on April 1, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly have been rivals for years(Image: Getty Images)
Formula 1 enemies Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon raised eyebrows as they watched PSG beat Liverpool in the Champions League together.
The former Alpine team-mates have known each other for years before they both entered F1 as the two drivers, who grew up 20 minutes away in the same region of Normandy, were childhood friends before their ambitions and battles on track from their karting days got in the way.
Their rivalry returned to the forefront when Gasly joined Alpine as Ocon’s team-mate with the two involved in multiple contacts together, including a huge crash at the Australian Grand Prix in 2023 when they crashed into each other at a red flag race restart.
F1 stars Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly watched PSG's win over Liverpool, with Ocon's model girlfriend Flavy Barla
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F1 stars Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly watched PSG's win over Liverpool, with Ocon's model girlfriend Flavy Barla
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However, the two can seemingly still stand each other enough to watch their beloved PSG together as they were spotted in the stands alongside Ocon’s gorgeous girlfriend Flavy Barla.
Ocon reportedly started dating the French medical student, model and former Miss Côte d’Azur in 2023 and they have been spotted in the paddock together regularly. Red Bull star and fellow Frenchman Isack Hadjar was also apparently sat the other side of Flavy.
Fans on X reacted to the moment the camera panned to show the two rivals side by side, with one questioning: “now WHO forced them to sit together!” A second added: “Next thing you know we’ll be seeing Max & George together.”
Esteban Ocon
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Esteban Ocon has been joined regularly by girlfriend Flavy Barla in the F1 paddock
flavy barla
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Flavy Barla is a medical student and model
And all three would have been pleased with PSG’s work on the night as goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia saw the European champions outclass Liverpool, although the hosts will certainly feel they should be heading to Anfield next week with a greater aggregate lead.
The two French drivers opened up on their historic rivalry on Netflix’s Drive To Survive. Recalling the karting incident in question, Gasly said: "I had a fantastic race that day and on the last lap, I am fourth, Esteban is third.
“Both side-by-side to the line, and then I just like passed him, just literally in the last corner. The friendship we had, it just went downward from there."
Ocon had a different version of the incident, adding: “It is true, this is what he did. Overtake on the last lap, but I can tell you that he wasn't racing the way that he should have done." Gasly then confirmed he was disqualified from the race for making that manoeuvre.
Gasly added that he has offered an olive branch to Ocon to make their personal as well as professional relationship work.
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“I know I have given Esteban many, many chances to make this relationship work, but if someone doesn't want to be friends then that's fine to me," he said.