Gasly becomes football club co-owner

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly has become a co-owner at French football club FC Versailles.

Gasly has become a third partner at the club, which participates in the third tier of French football, the National, with the decision to invest ‘attesting to his desire to engage in a long-term development project for the club’.

The club will also benefit from international exposure as part of the deal, which will help with its goal of becoming fully professional.

Club president Alexandre Mulliez said: “Pierre brings a strong complement to Fabien and myself. I am convinced that our collaboration will be fruitful. As a long-time fan of F1, I am lucky to have Pierre by our side to achieve all our goals.”

Gasly added: ​“I am delighted to get involved with FC Versailles because I have always wanted to get involved in professional football.

“With Alexandre & Fabien [Lazare], we share values, ambition and a keen competitive spirit which will allow us to positively develop the club.

“This is the start of a very beautiful story. Go Versailles!”

Gasly is the latest F1 driver on the grid to buy into a sports team following Lewis Hamilton’s move to become part of the investment group behind the Denver Broncos NFL team, while Valtteri Bottas stepped in to help save his local ice hockey team, the Lahti Pelicans, by taking a 10 per cent stake.