The president of FC Lorient, Loïc Féry, and Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly have just created together “10 Padel”, a professional franchise which will participate, among others, in the biggest padel competition, the Hexagon Cup, in January 2025 in Spain. Cross-interview with these two sports and football enthusiasts.
Can you tell us about your meeting, in May 2023, on the sidelines of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami (United States)?
Pierre Gasly : We met with Loïc on the sidelines of this Grand Prix, on a padel court. This directly created links around sport, as fans of all disciplines in general, and particularly football. Coming back to padel, we played face to face that day, it started directly with a competition (smile). We shared a great time, we were able to discuss our experiences, and there was a feeling. We stayed in touch afterwards, without knowing what the future would bring us.
Loïc Féry : Pierre is very modest, because there was indeed a small challenge on the padel court, and he had a very good partner. He left out the fact that they won. We're going to do it again! The other little link between us is that in Pierre's close environment (son manager), there is a former FC Lorient, Guillaume Le Goff. There were connections that had to be made, even if it was not through the FCL that we met.
“We play matches with other drivers”
Personally, do you often play padel?
LF : Pierre has a very good level. Personally, I play more tennis than padel. That's why I'm being massacred by Pierre (smile).
PG : I'm playing in about thirty minutes with Benjamin Pavard (international tricolore de football)in Milan. Here, there are a lot of fields, it's a popular and highly developed sport. We are also often lucky enough to have land close to circuits or hotels. I try to practice fairly regularly. I usually do it with my sports coach, with whom I spend most of my year, and I also do games during the Grand Prix with other drivers. There are usually ten of us playing in the same place, with (Lando) Norris, Charles (Leclerc), (George) Russell, (Kevin) Magnussen, etc. We play matches against each other.
You finally decided to create a padel franchise together. When and how did this project emerge…
