There are few more exciting sports on the planet than Formula 1. Sportsmen that compete in the sport are among the most disciplined and talented, as huge sacrifices must be made to reach the pinnacle.
However, drivers also have a lot of downtime, with a mid-season break taking place during the summer, and athletes able to take time off during pre-season between December and February.
Therefore, it is little surprise that Formula 1 stars have a passion for soccer. But, who do some of the drivers on the current grid follow?
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is the most famous Formula 1 driver in history, and is also one of the most successful. The British driver is tied for the most Drivers' Championships alongside the legendary Michael Schumacher, but Hamilton stands alone in terms of race wins and podiums.
The Brit formed part of the most dominant driver-team partnerships in F1 history alongside Mercedes, winning eight straight Constructors' Championships. However, his stay with the team ended in 2025, as he signed a stunning deal to drive for Ferrari.
Outside of Formula 1, Hamilton has a number of passions; with Premier League team Arsenal being among those. You can check how Arsenal positions in the best Premier League betting sites here.
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso is the most experienced driver on the Formula 1 grid in 2025, as he competes for the Aston Martin team.
The Spaniard is a two-time world champion, with both victories coming during his time with Renault in 2005 and 2006. The 43-year-old has won 32 Grand Prix, and his career has spun across 22 seasons.
Furthermore, Alonso has achieved 22 pole positions, 106 podiums, and 26 fastest laps. He also holds the record for the most race stars in Formula 1 history. Outside of the sport, Alonso is a passionate fan of Real Madrid, and he regularly watches games at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz is one of the most popular drivers in Formula 1, and he has achieved huge success throughout his eleven-season career to this point. The Spaniard was part of the Red Bull Junior Team and debuted in 2015 for Toro Rosso alongside Max Verstappen.
However, he moved to Renault in 2017, before later signing for McLaren to end his Red Bull association in 2019. A first podium was achieved at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2020, before he signed for Ferrari in 2021.
Despite going winless in his first season, he would finally break his maiden with victory at the British Grand Prix in 2022. Sainz would later win races in Singapore, Australia, and Mexico City before being replaced by Lewis Hamilton 2025. Sainz is a huge soccer fan, and is an avid follower of Real Madrid.
Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly is one of two French drivers on the grid, and is a passionate sports fan aside from motorsport. Aside from being a keen follower of the NBA, Gasly is regularly in attendance for PSG matches when he isn't racing.
The 29-year-old broke into F1 as part of the Red Bull Junior Team in 2014, making his debut in 2017 for the Toro Rosso team at the Malaysian Grand Prix. He was appointed as a full-time driver in the following season, before being promoted to drive for Red Bull in 2019.
However, he was later demoted before achieving a first podium at the Brazilian Grand Prix. A first victory in F1 would arrive with the rebranded Alpha Tauri at the Italian Grand Prix, before he moved to Alpine at the start of 2023 season. Gasly achieved the team's first podium at the Dutch Grand Prix, before repeating the feat at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last season.
Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc is undeniably one of the most popular drivers on the Formula 1 grid. The 27-year-old has a number of sporting links to his home country of Monaco, which includes supporting the nation's basketball and soccer teams.
Leclerc made his F1 debut in 2018 as part of the Sauber team, scoring points in several races. His potential was picked up by Ferrari in 2019 after he was promoted to partner Sebastian Vettel.
He later became the second-youngest pole sitter in Formula 1 history at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Leclerc tasted victory for the first time at the highest level when landing victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, before becoming the first driver in nine seasons to win the Italian Grand Prix. Winless campaigns followed in 2020 and 2021, before he became the main threat to Verstappen's title in the 2022 season.
The most memorable moment of his career came last season, as Leclerc became the first Monegasque driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix in 93 years. His 2024 season would end with further victories in Italy and the United States as Ferrari finished second in the Constructors' Championship.
