Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly has recently expanded his horizons beyond the racetrack by venturing into the world of padel. The Alpine racer has teamed up with French financier Loic Fery, president of football club Lorient, to establish 10Padel, a new team in the Hexagon Cup. This move follows in the footsteps of sports icons Andy Murray and Lionel Messi, who have also invested in padel teams.
The Hexagon Cup, a prestigious padel competition, features teams of professional players divided into male, female, and next-gen categories. The second edition of the tournament is scheduled to take place in Madrid in January 202. Gasly and Fery decided to enter the padel world after playing the sport together at the Miami Grand Prix in May.
“I’m thrilled and excited to take this first step into the padel world by creating our professional team, 10Padel,” said Gasly. “I love this sport, which shares the same competitive spirit and passion that drives me on the Formula 1 circuits. Together with Loic, we see a unique opportunity to build a team that stands out both on and off the court.”
The Hexagon Cup boasts an impressive lineup of team owners, including Eva Longoria, Rafael Nadal, Sergio Aguero, and Robert Lewandowski. Murray, a prominent figure in the rise of padel, formed his team AD/vantage with businessman Arran Yentob and former tennis player and coach Dani Vallverdu. Messi co-owns the team Kru Padel by Taktika with former Argentina teammate Aguero, while Lewandowski is behind the RL9 team.
Gasly’s entry into the padel business highlights the growing popularity of the sport, which combines elements of tennis and squash. The Frenchman expressed his excitement about the opportunity to compete in such a promising competition and bring padel fans together.
As Gasly continues to excel on the Formula 1 circuits, his foray into padel demonstrates his versatility and passion for sports beyond racing. With the Hexagon Cup set to kick off in January, fans can look forward to seeing Gasly and his team take on some of the biggest names in padel.
