The unmistakable sound of carbon fiber meeting ball echoes across Monaco's Tennis Padel Soleil as Max Verstappen takes a tumble while attempting a spectacular volley. His doubles partner Lando Norris erupts in laughter, momentarily forgetting their fierce championship rivalry. This scene, captured just days before the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, perfectly encapsulates how athletes backing padel are transforming both the sport's profile and their own performance regimes across the UK and beyond.
Formula 1's elite have discovered what 400,000 UK players already know: padel offers the perfect blend of cardiovascular intensity, reflex training, and social connection that high-performance athletes crave. As the sport experiences a remarkable 210% year-on-year growth in the UK, F1 drivers are leading a celebrity charge that's reshaping padel from niche pursuit to mainstream phenomenon. With 893 courts now operating across 300 UK venues and the LTA investing £6 million in development, the timing couldn't be better for understanding why these precision athletes have fallen for padel's unique appeal.
The sight of championship contenders Max Verstappen and Lando Norris playing padel together throughout their intense 2024 title battle surprised many fans. Yet their regular sessions at Monaco's courts demonstrate padel's unique ability to provide competitive athletes with a pressure-free environment for maintaining friendships. "I couldn't care less if I played padel with someone last week," Norris explained in an exclusive RacingNews365 interview. "It doesn't change what I want to do on track, which is to win. If anything, it makes you want to beat them more."
Their padel partnership extends beyond casual hits. Verstappen maintains eleven rackets in his collection, generously lending them to fellow drivers like Daniel Ricciardo during their sessions. The pair have been documented playing together at least four times during 2024 alone, including sessions in Monaco, post-Imola, and even in Qatar after Verstappen secured his fourth championship. These matches often feature other F1 stars - Fernando Alonso and Ricciardo joined them during Bahrain testing, creating a four-driver doubles match that Norris documented on social media with the caption "getting warmed up."
The competitive nature remains intact on the padel court. Oscar Piastri, McLaren's rising star, revealed the intensity drivers bring to their matches: "We take it far too seriously, yes. But it's very good fun and a good way of just keeping yourself awake." This blend of competition and camaraderie explains why padel has become the unofficial sport of the F1 paddock, with drivers organizing matches during race weekends across the calendar.
While most F1 drivers content themselves with playing padel, Pierre Gasly has transformed his passion into a business venture by co-founding 10 Padel for the prestigious Hexagon Cup. Announced in October 2024, Gasly's team joins an elite roster including franchises owned by Lionel Messi, Andy Murray, and Rafael Nadal in what's dubbed "padel's first World Cup for private teams."
"I'm thrilled to take this first step into the padel world," Gasly stated at the announcement. "I love this sport, which shares the same competitive spirit and passion that drives me on the Formula 1 circuits." The partnership originated during the Miami Grand Prix when Gasly played with co-founder Loïc Féry, demonstrating how padel courts have become networking hubs for athletes and business leaders alike.
The Hexagon Cup represents padel's growing commercial appeal, with its €1 million prize fund attracting global broadcast deals including ITV in the UK. Gasly's involvement signals a shift in how athletes backing padel view the sport - not just as recreation but as a legitimate investment opportunity in a market experiencing 26% annual growth globally.
Scientific research reveals compelling reasons why Formula 1 drivers gravitate toward padel. Studies from PMC research indicate padel players demonstrate "greater physical fitness condition, employing better body balance and explosive power, abdominal endurance, and cardiovascular capacity" - all crucial attributes for F1 performance. The sport's high-intensity intermittent nature mirrors the physical demands of racing, where drivers experience heart rates of 80-85% maximum throughout a Grand Prix.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz explicitly connects padel to his F1 preparation: "I've been starting to play padel a lot to prepare for Formula 1. I like working on my reflexes and thinking fast under pressure." This isn't mere anecdote - research confirms padel significantly improves reaction time through rapid decision-making requirements and hand-eye coordination development. The enclosed court's wall rebounds create unpredictable ball trajectories that challenge reflexes in ways directly applicable to split-second racing decisions.
Pedro de la Rosa, former F1 driver and current Aston Martin ambassador, provides expert insight: "Away from driving, any sport where you need quick reactions and coordination is useful. Padel is a good example. It's popular among the drivers because you need quick reflexes and good coordination; it's another very complete sport." Crucially, padel achieves these benefits while maintaining a low injury risk compared to other training options, making it ideal for athletes who cannot afford time away from their primary sport.
The influence of athletes backing padel extends far beyond individual fitness benefits. UK participation has skyrocketed from 15,000 players in 2019 to over 400,000 in 2024, with F1 drivers playing a significant role in this growth. Social media analysis reveals that padel-related content from F1 drivers generates millions of interactions, introducing the sport to new audiences across demographic boundaries.
Tom Murray, LTA Head of Padel, acknowledges this celebrity impact: "With over 400,000 people taking to the courts in 2024 and 8 million expressing interest in trying the sport, padel's momentum is undeniable." The LTA's £6 million investment targets 1,000 courts by 2026, recognizing that celebrity endorsement accelerates adoption. Already, major developments include Powerleague's multi-million pound investment, David Lloyd's 33-court expansion, and Game4Padel's nationwide growth backed by Andy Murray and other sporting celebrities.
The demographics reveal padel's broad appeal - while maintaining strong participation among 35-54 year-olds, the sport attracts all ages at an average cost of just £7 per person per hour. This accessibility, combined with the aspirational element of playing the same sport as F1 champions, creates a powerful growth catalyst. When fans see Verstappen and Norris battling on court via social media, it demystifies padel and encourages participation.
Formula 1 drivers represent just one segment of elite athletes backing padel. Football giants Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have both installed private courts, with Ronaldo's company investing in a 17-court facility near Lisbon. Jürgen Klopp partnered with Wilson for a signature racket line, stating: "Padel is, besides football, the best game I've ever played. Since I discovered it five years ago, I'm really addicted to it."
Tennis transitions naturally to padel, with Andy Murray co-founding Game4Padel (valued at £25 million) and Rafael Nadal incorporating courts into his academy. NBA star Jimmy Butler, who learned from Neymar, explains the cross-training benefits: "Padel complements my basketball skills mentally. The sport teaches me to always compete, which translates to basketball the most."
This multi-sport adoption creates a virtuous cycle. Each celebrity endorsement introduces padel to new fan bases, while their investment legitimizes the sport's commercial potential. The Reserve Cup now offers a $1.7 million prize purse, attracting partnerships from Yankees Global Enterprises and spawning dedicated padel venture capital funds backed by NHL players.
The phenomenon of athletes backing padel represents more than a fleeting trend - it signals a fundamental shift in how elite performers approach cross-training, social connection, and commercial opportunity. For UK padel enthusiasts, the influx of F1 drivers and global sports stars validates their passion while promising continued growth and investment in facilities.
As Max Verstappen picks himself up from that Monaco court tumble, laughing with his championship rival, he embodies padel's unique proposition: serious athletic benefits delivered through genuine enjoyment. With UK courts projected to reach 1,000 by 2026 and 8 million Britons expressing interest in trying the sport, the intersection of F1 glamour and padel accessibility creates an irresistible combination. Whether seeking Verstappen's reflexes, Gasly's business acumen, or simply Norris's joy in friendly competition, UK padel players can thank Formula 1's finest for accelerating their sport's remarkable journey from niche to mainstream.
