Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Max Verstappen and F1 Stars Embrace Padel Ahead of Brazilian GP
Imagine race car drivers who zoom around tracks at super high speeds.
Before big races, some of these drivers, like Max Verstappen, are choosing to play a different game instead of just resting.
This game is called padel.
It's played on a smaller court with walls and uses racquets, kind of like a mix between tennis and squash.
Other famous drivers also enjoy playing padel.
They like it because it helps them think fast and react quickly, just like they do in their race cars, but it's also a fun way to relax with friends.
Some drivers even like it so much they have started their own teams!
Padel is becoming really popular for these athletes when they are not racing.
Max Verstappen and other F1 drivers like Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris have been observed playing padel.
Padel is gaining popularity in Formula 1 as an off-track activity.
The sport is noted for its blend of tactical thinking, coordination, and reflexes, beneficial for drivers.
Padel offers a less physically demanding alternative that helps drivers unwind and maintain sharpness.
Some drivers, such as Pierre Gasly, are investing in professional padel teams, highlighting the sport's growing integration into F1 culture.
- Who
- Formula 1 drivers including Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, and Lando Norris
- What
- Playing Padel, a sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, as a popular off-track activity.
- When
- Ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix and increasingly between race weekends.
- Where
- Near F1 team hotels and race circuits in Grand Prix host nations like Spain, Italy, and the Middle East.
- Why
- Padel is seen as a way to channel competitive energy, maintain reflexes and tactical skills, unwind, and foster camaraderie without the high physical demands or risks of injury associated with their primary sport.
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Padel's Role in F1
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Padel is a perfect off-track activity for F1 drivers, aiding in maintaining sharpness, tactical thinking, and reflexes without undue physical strain or risk of injury.
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While popular, padel offers a less physically demanding yet engaging activity that allows drivers to unwind and foster camaraderie in a competitive, relaxed environment.
Driver Engagement with Padel
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Many F1 drivers, including Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, and Lando Norris, regularly play padel as a competitive pastime.
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Some drivers, like Pierre Gasly, have integrated padel more deeply by co-founding professional teams, indicating a significant level of commitment beyond casual play.
- Drivers Playing Padel
- Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris
- Benefits of Padel for Drivers
- Tactical thinking, coordination, reflexes, unwinding, maintaining sharpness, camaraderie
- Pierre Gasly's Padel Venture
- Co-founded professional padel team '10Padel'
- Padel Circuits Mentioned
- FIP Tour, Premier Padel, Hexagon Cup