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It is true both golf and F1 have many things in common. Both sports demand the same rare combination: total concentration, the ability to recover from a mistake without dwelling on it, and the composure to perform when the pressure is at its highest. This blurring of these two worlds is captured in the fact that McLaren have launched McLaren Golf with a planned launch of equipment including golf clubs launching on 29 April being spearheaded by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown and ex-Callaway Managing Director Neil Howie who will become McLaren Golf CEO. But what is the alure of golf that attracts F1 drivers.
Why golf appeals to Formula 1 driversFor drivers who spend their working lives at the mercy of 200mph machinery, enormous physical risk and the relentless scrutiny of a global fanbase, golf offers something genuinely rare: a sport that carries almost no injury risk, demands complete mental presence, and happens somewhere nobody can follow them with an iPhone or poster to sign. The physical appeal is straightforward. Unlike cycling, skiing or most other pursuits favoured by elite athletes, golf places minimal stress on the body. There are no crashes, no collisions, no torn ligaments. A driver can play 18 holes the week before a Grand Prix without their engineer insurance broker or agent losing sleep over it. The mental appeal runs deeper. Golf is one of the few activities that forces the mind to slow down completely. Each shot demands total focus on a single moment. There is no room for a race debrief, a contract negotiation, or a social media notification. For drivers whose brains are rarely given permission to be still, that enforced presence is genuinely restorative. And then there is the privacy. Golf courses are, by their nature, enclosed and largely inaccessible to the public. There are no crowds pressing against barriers, no cameras on cranes, no journalists at the ropes. For drivers who cannot walk through an airport without being recognised, the fairway offers something close to anonymity and the chance to simply enjoy a game with friends, away from the noise. |
The Golfer F1 Driver Line Up
Lando Norris
Handicap: 8
A self-confessed golf addict, Lando Norris cuts an impressively assured figure on the course, almost as deft at navigating the fairways as he is the chicanes. He has stepped comfortably into the world of pro-am tournaments, appearing at celebrity events at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and the Dubai Desert Classic, and even receiving a coveted invitation to play at Augusta National, a privilege extended to very few.
Away from the racetrack, golf has become Norris’s most consistent outlet. He shares rounds regularly on social media, and his handicap of eight places him firmly among the best amateur players in the paddock. The mental discipline required for both sports is no coincidence: precision, composure under pressure, and the ability to reset after a mistake.
Golf style
The popular Briton sports a sleek athleisure look that blends high-performance pieces with contemporary streetwear. Norris often favours technical polo shirts and quarter-zip sweaters that exude a quiet confidence: the kind of kit that looks sharp on the first tee and still feels right in the clubhouse after.
Carlos Sainz
Handicap: 9
An avid golfer like his good friend Lando Norris, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz is widely considered the most technically gifted golfer on the Formula 1 circuit. His swing has been described as ‘almost textbook’, an attribute that helped propel him to victory alongside pro partner Justin Thomas in the Netflix Cup in 2023. That win was no fluke. He also took part in the Celebrity Pro-am as part of The 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. Sainz approaches golf with the same methodical precision he brings to car setup: studying the course, managing risk, and executing when it matters.
Carlos plays in his native Spain with friends as well as his father and rally driver Carlos Sainz Senior.
Golf style
On the course, Sainz opts for a smart-casual look in neutral, understated tones with the odd white golf cap worn backwards. He is regularly seen in high-quality golf polo shirts and tailored shorts or chinos that allow for freedom of movement. It is a wardrobe that mirrors his approach to the game: composed, considered, and quietly stylish.
Charles Leclerc at The Old Course St Andrews in Glenmuir g.Saltire Sweater, Photo by St Andrews Links®
Charles Leclerc
Handicap: around 18
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, pictured above in Glenmuir, finds solace in golf during the off-season or on breaks away from the track. He has been spotted playing on some of the world’s most hallowed greens, not least the Old Course at St Andrews, Terre Blanche in the South of France and the sun-drenched Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles. For Leclerc, golf is less about competition and more about stillness, a rare commodity in the relentless world of Formula 1.
At a handicap of around 18, he is a purist for the game, and the venues he chooses speak to a genuine appreciation for the sport’s great traditions. St Andrews, in particular, is a course that rewards patience and course management over raw power, whilst Gleneagles required extreme focus qualities Leclerc is steadily building into his game.
Golf style
The tenacious Monégasque always opts to play from the back tees in a polished and quietly refined look on the course including a golf gilet in the cooler Scottish weather. He often wears Glenmuir polo shirts, three-button cut, tailored collar that works as well at a smart club as it does in the Monaco sunshine, paired with neutral-toned performance golf trousers that allow full freedom through the swing. A zip neck merino sweater and tinted sunglasses complete the look: effortless Riviera chic.
Charles Leclerc at The Old Course St Andrews in Glenmuir g.Malabar Beanie, Photo by St Andrews Links®
Alex Albon
Handicap: around 15
For Williams driver Alex Albon, golf is a welcome distraction from the intensity of racing. He occasionally plays in pro-am exhibition matches and is fortunate to have expert guidance close by. His fiancée is Lily Muni He, who competes on the LPGA Tour, and her professional eye has undoubtedly helped sharpen Albon’s understanding of the game. Having a tour-level player as a practice partner is an advantage most club golfers can only dream of.
Albon’s handicap of around 15 reflects a player who takes the game seriously enough to improve, but approaches it with the easy-going spirit that has made him one of the most popular figures on the grid. Golf, for him, is as much about the company as the scorecard.
Golf style
Lily affectionately describes her partner’s on-course fashion as ‘complete chaos’, thanks to his eclectic mix of styles. Much of his look comes from his own AA23 clothing line, built around casual t-shirts and soft golf hoodies that prioritise comfort above all else. It is an approach that suits his personality perfectly: relaxed, unpretentious, and entirely his own.
Lewis Hamilton
Handicap: 15/16
Though not a golf fanatic in the way some of his F1 rivals are, Lewis Hamilton has been spotted on the course playing alongside Lando Norris and NFL legend Tom Brady. For him, golf is a way to relax and socialise rather than an obsession. Even so, glimpses of his swing shared online hint at a player with natural co-ordination and athletic instinct, hardly surprising from a seven-time World Champion.
Hamilton’s relationship with golf is perhaps the most telling of all the drivers on this list. He does not need it as a competitive outlet; he already has that in abundance. Instead, it serves as a rare space where he can simply enjoy the company and step away from the weight of expectation that follows him everywhere else.
Golf style
Staying true to his reputation as one of the grid’s most fashion-forward figures, Hamilton brings a vibrant flair to the golf course. Expect to find him in brightly coloured trousers and retro-inspired tops, bold choices that reflect his wider approach to personal style. Where most drivers blend in, Hamilton stands out.
Pierre Gasly
Handicap: around 20
French driver Pierre Gasly took up golf in 2022, and it has since become his sanctuary between the demands of gruelling race weekends. He has spoken openly about the mental pressures of Formula 1, and golf, with its insistence on stillness, patience and the long view, has given him a way to carry that calm back to the circuit.
The parallels between the two sports run deeper than most people expect. Both demand intense focus, the ability to move on from a poor shot or a poor lap, and a willingness to play the long game. For Gasly, the course has become as much a part of his preparation as the simulator.
Golf style
Gasly has channelled his passion for golf into his own Bogey Gang clothing line. The collection blends the timeless poise of traditional golf wear with the cutting edge of modern street culture. Many pieces from his range of t-shirts, polos, zip-up sweatshirts and hats incorporate his initials and racing number 10, a personal touch that reflects just how seriously he takes the sport beyond the course.
Lance Stroll
Handicap: around 10
On the quiet, Lance Stroll is one of the most formidable golfers in the paddock. While many of his peers share their rounds on social media, the guarded Canadian keeps his game a little more under wraps. Yet those who have played with him speak with genuine admiration about his ability, as well as his generosity when tipping caddies after the round.
A handicap of around 10 puts Stroll comfortably ahead of most recreational golfers and well within the top tier of the F1 field. His reticence to publicise his game is very much in keeping with his character, measured, private, and letting the performance do the talking.
Golf style
Stroll prefers clean lines, and his wardrobe leans heavily into his team’s colours of Aston Martin green, paired with crisp blacks, whites and the occasional subtle accent. Performance polo shirts made from breathable, moisture-wicking materials are his preferred choice on the course, practical, polished, and built for the game.
Fernando Alonso
Handicap: not publicly known
Fernando Alonso is one of the most fiercely competitive people in the history of Formula 1, a man who has famously rated himself nine out of ten "in everything." It would be surprising, then, if he approached golf with anything less than the same intensity he brings to the racetrack. Alonso has been spotted on the course on a number of occasions and is known to enjoy the game, though he keeps his golf life considerably more private than his racing one.
What is not in doubt is that the mental profile required for golf suits him well. Alonso has always been defined by his ability to stay composed in the most pressurised of situations, to think clearly when others cannot, and to extract the maximum from whatever is in front of him. Those qualities translate naturally to the fairway.
Golf style
Alonso tends to favour an understated look on the course, much as he does off it. Smart performance pieces in neutral tones reflect a man who has no need to draw attention to himself. His game, like his racing, does the talking.
Sergio Perez
Handicap: not publicly known
Sergio Perez has made no secret of his enjoyment of golf, and his connection to the sport runs beyond a casual interest. The Mexican driver was the face of two successive TaylorMade and Red Bull Racing collaborations, appearing on-course as part of both the Speed Craft and Pursuit Collections. It is a partnership that speaks to genuine enthusiasm rather than a contractual obligation: Perez has been seen playing with genuine enjoyment, and the collaborations were built around his involvement from the start.
For Perez, golf offers the same things it offers many of his peers: a chance to step away from the paddock, compete in a different arena, and find a rhythm that has nothing to do with lap times or tyre strategies.
Golf style
Perez brings a relaxed, confident energy to the course, favouring performance pieces that reflect his easy-going personality. His Red Bull Racing collaborations with TaylorMade have given him a natural affinity for bold, co-branded golf apparel that bridges the worlds of motorsport and the fairway.
FAQsWhich F1 driver is the best golfer?Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris are widely regarded as the best golfers on the Formula 1 circuit, with Lance Stoll not far behind. Both play regularly off a handicap of around eight, often sharing their rounds online. The co-ordination and mental discipline needed for the racetrack translate remarkably well to the golf course, and their good-natured rivalry has made them the most talked-about golfing duo in motorsport. How skilled are F1 drivers at golf?Skill levels vary considerably across the grid. Norris and Sainz are strong single-figure players, while Stroll’s handicap of around 10 makes him arguably the most underrated golfer in the paddock. But others, like Leclerc and Gasly, are developing their games quickly. Many drivers use golf as their primary off-season hobby to maintain focus, precision and physical conditioning. Why do so many F1 drivers play golf?Golf suits Formula 1 drivers for three reasons that go beyond simple enjoyment. First, it carries almost no injury risk: unlike most sports, a driver can play 18 holes the week before a race without concern. Second, it forces the mind to slow down completely. Each shot demands total presence, offering genuine mental recovery from the relentless pressure of the paddock. Third, golf courses are private by nature, largely inaccessible to the public, giving drivers a rare space where they can simply be themselves, away from cameras and crowds. It is also a chance to bond with teammates and rivals away from the track, something the Sainz-Norris friendship has demonstrated better than anyone. |
