Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz visits F1 paddock, meets fellow Spaniards Alonso and Sainz
Tennis champion Carlos Alcaraz visited the F1 paddock in Bahrain, meeting Spanish drivers Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. The world No. 1, a self-professed F1 fan converted by Alonso, toured team garages during pre-season testing, highlighting the sport's crossover appeal.
World No. 1 tennis player Carlos Alcaraz swapped the court for the pit lane, visiting the Bahrain International Circuit paddock during Formula 1 pre-season testing. The 22-year-old Spaniard met with compatriots Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz and toured the McLaren and Ferrari garages, blending the worlds of elite tennis and motorsport.
Why it matters:
The crossover between global sports stars highlights F1's expanding cultural reach and its appeal to a younger, athletically-minded audience. Alcaraz's visit, driven by his fandom for Alonso, underscores how driver personalities are pivotal in attracting new fans from different sporting disciplines, strengthening F1's position as a crossover entertainment spectacle.
The details:
- Fresh from completing a career Grand Slam at the Australian Open, Alcaraz made the stop in Bahrain before heading to his next tournament in Doha.
- He has been a long-time motorsport fan and a vocal supporter of Fernando Alonso, even replicating the two-time F1 champion's iconic celebration pose after his semi-final win in Melbourne.
- Alcaraz credited Alonso for his interest in F1, stating in 2023: "Fernando has made me into a Formula 1 fan. He’s made me watch races, made me support him."
- During the visit, Alonso was focused on Aston Martin's testing program, completing 98 laps in the AMR26 but noting the team still has significant work to do to improve its pace before the season opener.
What's next:
The focus for F1 now shifts to the final day of this test session and a second three-day test next week, with teams analyzing data to prepare for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. For Alcaraz, attention returns to the tennis court at the ExxonMobil Open in Qatar.