Off grid: F1 driver Gasly invests in football team

Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly is veering off the track and into the football world after investing in French third division club FC Versailles.

“I’m delighted to be joining FC Versailles because I’ve always wanted to get involved in professional football,” said Gasly, who drives for Alpine. “This is the start of a wonderful story. Go Versailles!”

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The French driver will join the club as joint shareholder, alongside Alexandre Mulliez — the grandson of the founder of Auchan multinational retail group — and his partner Fabien Lazare.

Speaking to French outlet L’Equipe, Gasly said: “I had been looking for some time to get involved in an ambitious project. I was looking at what was happening in that world and I met the Mulliez family.

“We sat around the table to see how he [Alexandre] wanted to develop the club. We have medium and long-term ambitions for five, 10 and 15 years. It’s one of my favourite sports, my second after racing.”

The club did not reveal the percentage of Gasly’s shareholding.”It’s not the biggest financial commitment of my life as an entrepreneur,” Gasly said to L’Equipe. “But it is the one that emotionally engages me the most.

“Above all, it’s a passion project for me, to create something solid in terms of training, and women’s football too.”

Mulliez took over the financially stricken club last year.

“I am convinced that our collaboration will be fruitful,” Mulliez said. “As a long-standing F1 fan, I know how lucky we are to have Pierre at our side to help us achieve all our goals.”

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.