Pierre Gasly isn't expecting any issues with Max Verstappen when he joins the Dutchman at Red Bull Racing next season, despite many believing the rivalry could be fierce and explosive.
The 22-year-old French driver will step up to the senior bull outfit after an impressive formative year in F1 with Toro Rosso, and find himself on the other side of a rival he knows well.
"I remember Max behind me at the start in all four heats and two times he pushed me into the grass," Gasly said, recalling a kart race between the pair back in 2010.
"He was as aggressive then as he is now.
"We had a different route here, but we always kept contact. Initially we were not very close, because there was a rivalry.
"But when we got to know each other a bit better, it turned out to be very good," Gasly told Algemeen Dagblad newspaper in Brazil.
However, with two raging bulls in the same pen, many are predicting fireworks to erupt sooner or later at the Milton Keynes team.
"Of course Max is a strong personality and a class driver," Gasly added. "And he has a very strong entourage around him. And yes, I needed a little longer to get here.
"But what does that ultimately mean? The world doesn't know Pierre Gasly too well, but that will definitely change next year.
"Our friendship does not have to suffer, as long as there is respect. I think we are both smart enough to distinguish between what happens on and off the track."
Both young chargers are on a mission to win the world championship, and while Verstappen perhaps enjoys a head start given his experience relative to his future team mate, Gasly is convinced he'll be in the right environment to stake his claim.
"Red Bull Racing is a brilliant step towards that goal," he said.
"They are always competing in the top three and hopefully with Honda we will be able to finish even higher than the last two years."
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