After another captivating season, the 2026 UEFA Champions League reaches its conclusion tonight, as holders Paris Saint-Germain look to defend their title against the new Premier League champions Arsenal – and we know at least four F1 drivers will be keeping a very close eye on the game in Budapest.
Arsenal fan Lewis Hamilton will be hoping the North London side can claim their first ever Champions League crown, while the French trio of Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon and Isack Hadjar will be in the blue corner supporting the Parisian outfit. However, we’re sure the rest of the paddock will also be following the game as there are quite a few football fans on the grid – let’s find out which teams they all support…
Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, and Isack Hadjar – PSG
Paris Saint-Germain are the most successful team in France, with 14 league titles, four European cups and 58 trophies in total, so it’s no surprise they have a huge fan base, including no less than three F1 drivers.
As mentioned above, Gasly, Ocon, and Hadjar are all big fans, with all three of them attending PSG’s 2-0 victory against Liverpool in the quarter-final earlier this year.
The Frenchmen will be eager for the Parisians to defend their title after last year’s 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan gave PSG their maiden Champions League crown.
It was an emotional victory for Hadjar and Gasly – who is also a co-owner of the French football club FC Versailles – who watched the game together during the Barcelona race weekend before turning up on Sunday in PSG kit. Keep an eye out for some appropriate celebrations from these three at the Monaco Grand Prix if PSG come out on top…
Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri – Arsenal
Hamilton is a boyhood Arsenal fan, largely thanks to his sister’s strong encouragement to support the red half of London when he was a kid.
The 41-year-old will be desperate for the London side to finally claim the Champions League after their heartbreaking defeat to Barcelona in the final 20 years ago. The Ferrari driver was delighted after the Gunners won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years earlier this month, posting “Come On You Gunners” on his Instagram story shortly after the league was secured.
In a good luck message ahead of tonight’s match posted on social media, Hamilton said how proud he was of the team, thanking them for the memories this season, and telling them to enjoy the last game.
Another driver who will be cheering on Arsenal tonight is Oscar Piastri, who describes himself as an Arsenal fan “by default”, as his partner’s family are all supporters of the Gunners.
Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso – Real Madrid
While Real Madrid may have been knocked out by Bayern Munich in the quarter-final this season, Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso have had plenty to celebrate over the years as fans of Los Blancos.
Madrid are the most successful club in Champions League history, winning the competition a staggering 15 times, including most recently back in 2024. Both Sainz and Alonso support the club through their fathers’ influence – Carlos Sainz Senior even had trials for the team as a teenager – attending games whenever they can and often arriving in the F1 paddock sporting Madrid shirts.
Nico Hulkenberg – Bayern Munich
Nico Hulkenberg was in attendance at the Allianz Arena to watch PSG edge out Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-final earlier this month.
As heartbreaking as that game was for the German, it’s been another season of ruthless domestic success for the Bavarian giants, who scored 122 goals on the way to a record 35th Bundesliga crown – the second-most ever in a top-five league campaign.
The Audi driver is also a big fan of his national team – and enjoyed the Germans’ 2-0 win over then-Haas team mate Kevin Magnussen’s Denmark at the Euros in 2024.
Arvid Lindblad and Lando Norris – Manchester United
Manchester United have one of the biggest fanbases in world football, so it was perhaps inevitable that at least one of the drivers in F1 would be a supporter of the Red Devils.
Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad is a fan of the 13-time Premier League champions, who last won the Champions League back in 2008, when Lindblad was less than a year old. The Briton will be dreaming that United’s return to the competition next season brings some more success.
Elsewhere, Lando Norris was more of a MotoGP fan when he was younger, but he did follow the red half of Manchester back when legendary player Cristiano Ronaldo was at the club. The McLaren man also spent some of his childhood at Bristol City games due to his dad’s connections at the club.
Charles Leclerc – AS Monaco
Charles Leclerc is loyal to his roots, supporting his local team and French top division side, AS Monaco.
Monaco have won the league eight times, and even completed the double over PSG this season, but fell agonisingly short of a shock upset in the Champions League, losing 5-4 to the Parisians on aggregate in the knockout phase.
Leclerc also enjoys playing football, frequently competing in charity games in the Principality with other F1 stars.
Max Verstappen – PSV Eindhoven
Max Verstappen is another driver who supports a team in part due to paternal influence, as he frequently attended PSV Eindhoven games with his father, Jos, as a child. It’s been another successful year for the Red Bull driver’s team, with PSV securing their third title in a row, and their 27th overall.
The Dutchman is huge football fan, frequently teaming up with members of the national team, including the likes of Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, and former PSV player and the all-time leading scorer for the Dutch team, Memphis Depay.
Kimi Antonelli – Bologna
Kimi Antonelli was born in Bologna, a city located between the Imola track and Ferrari’s base in Maranello. His father was originally keen for him to play football but, perhaps unsurprisingly given where he grew up, young Kimi instead caught the karting bug.
However, Antonelli still shows passion for football, supporting his local Bologna team, meeting the squad last year at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
All eight of Bologna’s Italian league titles came well before Antonelli was born (their last was in 1964), but the Mercedes driver has been able to enjoy a 2025 Coppa Italia title, along with solid Europa League and Champions League campaigns these past two seasons.
George Russell – Wolverhampton Wanderers
As a long-time season ticket holder of Wolves, George Russell’s father brought the Mercedes man to plenty of games over the years, and it’s clearly worn off on him.
The Briton has since returned to the Midlands club to watch his Wanderers side a few times, although it’s been a difficult season in the Premier League, as Wolves suffered relegation to the Championship.
Franco Colapinto – Boca Juniors
The footballing culture in Argentina is intense but electric, and being from Buenos Aires, it was only natural for Franco Colapinto to support one of the famous teams from the region. He is with the blue and yellow side of the city, backing Boca Juniors, who have won a remarkable 35 division titles and six Copa Libertadores, the South American version of the Champions League.
Back in 2022, the Alpine driver enjoyed a trip to the famous La Bombonera stadium, before getting out on the pitch and receiving his own special shirt!
Sergio Perez – Club America
Sergio Perez is a longstanding fan of the Mexico City-based team Club America, one of the most successful teams in the country.
The team plays in the almost 90,000-capacity Estadio Azteca, and it’s not hard to see why they have such a huge following, as they have won a record 16 league titles and seven CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League titles.
