It turns out the intense world of Formula 1 has a very specific off-track outlet, and it involves glass walls, solid rackets, and an awful lot of competitive fire. Padel—that glorious blend of tennis and squash played in doubles—has quietly taken over the paddock. Drivers aren't just dabbling; they are completely hooked.
Take Fernando Alonso and George Russell, for instance. Alonso has played the sport for 12 or 15 years, but when he teamed up with Russell, the pair apparently formed an unstoppable machine. As Alonso put it, "We are unbeatable at the moment! We play once and it's 100% dominant wins!" Russell, meanwhile, has leaned into the hobby as the season wears on and the travel piles up. But they are far from alone. Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz, and Charles Leclerc regularly find themselves on court, with Norris and Gabriel Bortoleto spotted playing ahead of the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix, and Alex Albon even revealing a dedicated driver group chat for organizing late-night matches.
We've seen how popular the sport has become among drivers and teams, but the appeal goes much further than that,
Of course, because these are racing drivers, nobody knows how to just have a casual knockabout. Piastri openly admitted, "We take it far too seriously, yes." And Pierre Gasly has taken his obsession past the recreational level entirely, putting his money where his mouth is by investing as an owner in 10Padel, a team competing in the Hexagon Cup.
Now, the commercial world is catching up to the craze. Ahead of the 2026 United States Grand Prix, Aston Martin announced a partnership with racket sports brand Padeltek, making them the first F1 team to formally link up with a padel and pickleball specialist. The resulting collection features three padel rackets and cover bags, with pickleball gear arriving in 2027. To mark the launch in Austin, Jenson Button, Jessica Hawkins, Jak Crawford, and Pedro de la Rosa hit the court.
Matt Chapman, Aston Martin's Head of Licensing and Merchandise, pointed out the natural crossover. "We've seen how popular the sport has become among drivers and teams, but the appeal goes much further than that," he said, noting the importance of authenticity in the Padeltek collaboration. Chief Marketing Officer Rob Bloom added that the mental demands of padel—quick thinking, precision, and sharp reaction times—mirror the day job quite nicely.
According to Mike Dale, Editor of The Padel Paper, the sport's rapid learning curve is a massive part of the addiction. With a baseline of athleticism and hand-eye coordination, players feel competent very quickly. Factor in the glamorous, trendy club environments that naturally appeal to the F1 crowd, alongside high-profile fans like David Beckham, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo, and it is easy to see why the paddock cannot put the rackets down.
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