Aston Martin became the first F1 team to partner with a padel brand, launching a line of rackets with Padeltek ahead of the US Grand Prix in Austin. The collaboration reflects padel's explosion in the paddock—Norris, Russell, Alonso, and Gasly are regulars on the court, with Gasly going as far as investing in his own team, 10Padel, which competes in the Hexagon Cup. The sport, a tennis-squash hybrid played in doubles on an enclosed court with glass walls, appeals to drivers for its accessibility and social element. "Very easy to become quite good at quite quickly," according to The Padel Paper's Mike Dale, especially for athletes with hand-eye coordination. Aston Martin's Matt Chapman cited the sport's natural connection to F1 and its global community as reasons for the move. The rackets hit shelves now, with pickleball gear coming in 2027. Expect more teams to follow Aston Martin's lead as padel's paddock takeover continues.
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