Pierre Gasly and Loic Fery Enter Padel Arena with 10Padel Launch

French Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly and entrepreneur Loic Fery have launched 10Padel, a new team for the upcoming Hexagon Cup, highlighting the rising popularity of padel. The tournament, taking place in the Madrid Arena, features teams owned by sports stars like Lionel Messi and Rafa Nadal.

French Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly is trading the tracks for the padel courts, partnering with entrepreneur Loic Fery to launch 10Padel. The duo announced their new team as the eighth and final entry in the Hexagon Cup, slated to occur from January 29 to February 2 at the Madrid Arena. As padel continues its surge as a prominent sport globally, this competition is emerging as a significant event.

Padel, often described as a mix of tennis and squash, is played in a unique doubles format on a smaller court surrounded by enclosure walls. Pierre Gasly, seasoned by seven years in Formula 1 racing, has drawn parallels between the sports, citing the shared competitive spirit driving his endeavors on and off the track.

The inception of 10Padel follows a shared enthusiasm for the sport between Gasly and Loic Fery, president of Ligue 2 club FC Lorient. After bonding over padel post-Miami Grand Prix, the idea for 10Padel took shape, and the team now joins ranks with those owned by celebrities like Lionel Messi. The Hexagon Cup will see participation from some of the world's leading professional players, unified under high-profile teams, contributing to padel's expansive growth to nearly 30 million global players.

(With inputs from agencies.)