F1 drivers take padel rivalry off track as Aston Martin joins the game

Formula 1 drivers do not leave all their rivalry in the cockpit. Ahead of the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix, Alex Albon revealed that drivers had set up a group chat to organise late-night padel matches during the race weekend. During the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix weekend, Fernando Alonso said he and George Russell were unbeaten together at that point; Alonso also described Russell as relatively new to padel. Oscar Piastri has said the drivers take their matches too seriously.

Padel is typically played in doubles on an enclosed court. It uses tennis-style scoring, underarm serves and walls that allow players to return a rebound. The fast rallies demand quick reactions, communication and teamwork. Rob Bloom, Aston Martin’s chief marketing officer, sees a natural crossover with F1 in the emphasis on quick thinking, precision and reactions. He says padel also brings drivers, team members and fans together away from the intensity of a race weekend.

Mike Dale, editor of The Padel Paper, points to the game’s accessibility: he says people with an athletic base, sporting ability and hand-eye coordination can become reasonably good quickly, and that this early progress is addictive. Pierre Gasly has taken his interest beyond playing: he is an investor in 10Padel, a team competing in the international Hexagon Cup. In February 2026, Gasly said padel was part of his daily life and that he saw business potential in the sport.

There is a team-level business side too. Ahead of the 2026 United States Grand Prix, Aston Martin announced a collaboration with Padeltek, becoming the first F1 team to formally partner with a company specialising in padel and pickleball. The collection features three padel rackets and accompanying cover bags; pickleball equipment is due to follow in 2027.