Formula 1 is no stranger to the casino capitals of the world, be it Monaco or Las Vegas and its no secret that drivers past and present have tried at poker.
For the first time in 2023, F1 cars raced not only through Monaco’s casino square but the iconic Las Vegas strip. Blasting past casino after casino at over 200 miles per how. But beyond the chequered flag, countless drivers racing in the present day and legends of the sport’s past find thrills in playing online poker.
Which drivers past and present are known for playing poker?
Long before Formula 1 made its debut in Las Vegas, Jaime Alguersuari was plying his trade in the series. Alguersuari made his debut as the then-youngest F1 driver in history at 19 years of age, part-way through the 2009 season. His career came to an end at the conclusion of the 2011 campaign with all his races coming with the Red Bull junior squad, Toro Rosso.
Alguersuari has carved a less-than-conventional post-racing career. The Spaniard has supplanted his racing thrills with the life of a professional DJ and is known for his keenness for a spot of poker as well and was even an ambassador for a poker provider during his driving days.
Giancarlo Fisichella is another driver, like Alguersuari, who took on an ambassadorial role within a poker-providing company, showing his affinity for the game. The Italian driver, winner of three Grands Prix with Jordan and Renault, had the honour of finishing his Formula 1 career with Ferrari, a dream for any Italian driver. His post-F1 life reportedly drew him further into the world of poker with numerous ambassadorial and coaching roles.
Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher is another driver who enjoyed swapping the asphalt for the poker table. The 91-time Grand Prix winner and seven-time World Drivers’ Champion is an all-time F1 great. Away from the track the German enjoyed many hobbies throughout his racing career.
A fan of two wheels as well as four, Schumacher was known for his eccentric fashion sense and regularly took part in the Formula 1 charity football match that traditionally took place ahead of the Monaco GP. Beyond this, Schumacher’s charitable sporting exploits saw him enjoy poker to quell his gambling thrill.
Schumacher is matched by Lewis Hamilton in terms of world titles, but ahead of securing his record-equalling seventh championship at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix, Hamilton found his competitive thirst elsewhere. The Briton took part in the $10,300 High Roller poker tournament but he didn’t enjoy the success that he had become accustomed to on track, finishing 113th out of 130 players…
Another thing Schumacher and Hamilton share, beyond F1 titles and an affinity to the poker scene, is a rival in Fernando Alonso. Alonso halted Schumacher’s run of titles with his maiden Championship victory in 2005 and the Spaniard repeated that success in 2006. Remarkably, Alonso is still competing in F1 in 2024, but 12 years ago, a year in which he narrowly missed out on a third-world title, he revealed that he’s a dab hand at poker.
“Nice evening of poker for some people,” Alonso wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) during his 2012 Ferrari campaign. “Sorry for my colleagues, I was just on fire.”
Still, it’s not just after racing is done that drivers like to enjoy a spot of poker. Back in 2010, the struggling Virgin Racing squad had joined the F1 circus with drivers Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi. Their season had little to show for it given the poor pace from the Virgin Racing F1 car, so it’s no wonder on qualifying day for the 2010 Japanese GP that Glock and di Grassi sought to distract themselves with a game of poker in the pit garage, with their mechanics providing a keen audience.
Why is poker popular with F1 drivers?
Poker is a game of not only luck, but skill, and strategy. Players need to play their cards close to their chests (literally) and not give anything away. It is no wonder then that Formula 1 drivers are drawn to it as the similarities are clear as day. In F1, luck can play its hand readily. Drivers need the good fortune to be in the right team to win, to have the good fortune of benefitting from safety cars and changeable weather.
Away from the track, drivers are trained to not divulge information too much to the travelling media, in order to keep rivals in the dark. So, it turns out there are plenty of transferable skills between Formula 1 and poker. Helping matters is Monaco, with its casino standing proud and close to countless F1 drivers past and present who find themselves living in the principality.
