Formula One has spread its appeal, top athletes have jumped on board

NEW YORK – Rafael Nadal had plenty of magical moments during his two-decade tennis career, most notably 14 French Open titles. But waving the chequered flag at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix in May was a special experience of a different kind.

“Anything can happen at any moment,” he said to TNT Sports at the race. “I’m a big fan.”

Over the last few years, F1 has become the sport du jour for other athletes to see and be seen.

With 22 grands prix annually around the world, F1 is a high-end playground for famous athletes, including tennis champions Serena and Venus Williams, Olympic champion skier Mikaela Shiffrin, golfer Ian Poulter and Olympic gold medallist sprinter Noah Lyles.

At the Miami race, members of the NBA’s Miami Heat and National Football League (NFL) side Miami Dolphins toured the paddock, taking selfies with the drivers. This enthusiasm has also translated to significant investment.

In 2023, NFL player Travis Kelce; his brother, Jason; quarterback Patrick Mahomes; golfer Rory McIlroy; boxer Anthony Joshua; and footballers Trent Alexander-Arnold and Juan Mata were part of a group that invested in the Alpine F1 team.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said last month that he understood why athletes were drawn to the sport.

“I believe that the top-level athletes immediately identify with the values that F1 embodies everyday – discipline, constant pressure, attention to details and the ability to perform in stressful moments,” he said.

“In recent years, a wonderful and genuine relationship has developed between Formula One and many champions from other sports. Ultimately, those who compete at the very highest level in sport speak the same language.”

F1 and tennis have developed a particularly synergistic relationship over the last several years. Part of the reason is the deep friendship between Domenicali and Andrea Gaudenzi, the chairman of the ATP, both of whom grew up in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

“We are similar in that both of our sports are star-driven,” Gaudenzi said last month. “Our athletes also have a lot of similarities. They live on the road. They are alone in the hotel room and then, ultimately, on the court or in the car. In the car you race against yourself, and on the court you play within yourself.”

Tennis world No. 1 Jannik Sinner has been a fan of car racing since he was a child.

The Italian now lives in Monaco and has gotten to know several drivers, including George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon. When Sinner won the year-ending ATP Finals in Turin last November, Antonelli joined him on the court.

“Outside of tennis it’s my biggest passion,” Sinner, who waved the chequered flag at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, said about F1. “I also like to drive cars.”

Casper Ruud, who has reached three Grand Slam finals, became captivated with F1 after watching the intense rivalry between Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg a decade ago.

“Hamilton set the benchmark for how good you could become as a driver,” he said. “And I like his personality. He always seems kind of humble and like a great guy.”

Ruud attended the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2025 and was able to tour some garages.

“The whole set-up is incredible. You think a tennis player has a big team around him, and they have hundreds of people working for them,” he said. “Just seeing the sport and the engines and how the technology of the cars has changed was really interesting.”

Domenicali said F1 had more similarities than differences with other sports.

“I believe the real common ground is managing pressure,” he said. “In Formula One, just like in tennis and golf, the slightest detail is enough to completely change the outcome. We are talking about a sport where mental preparation counts just as much as natural talent. And then there is another aspect... The constant quest for improvement. Great champions are never truly satisfied.

“Today, all of these sports have become global phenomenon, capable of uniting different cultures, generations and audiences. It’s wonderful to see athletes supporting and respecting one another.” NYTIMES