Lewis Hamilton shed a tear when Arsenal ended their 22-year Premier League wait. The Ferrari driver and lifelong Gunners fan wasn't hiding it either — he told reporters exactly that ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
"I shed a tear, to be honest," Hamilton said. The admission came with a story: aged five in Stevenage, his sister gave him a dig in the arm and told him to support Arsenal — at a time when every other kid around him backed West Ham, Spurs, or Manchester United. Tuesday's confirmation, sealed after Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth, was 22 years in the making.
Gasly's already looking at the bigger picture
Alpine's Pierre Gasly wasn't impressed. Or rather, he was more interested in what comes next. The Frenchman, a PSG supporter, pointed straight to the Champions League final between the two clubs — and left no ambiguity about where he stands.
"I'm glad we started talking about real stuff," Gasly quipped, before adding: "I'll obviously be rooting for PSG, and hopefully they can bring in a second Champions League." PSG come into the tie off the back of a fifth successive Ligue 1 title, won with a 2-0 away victory over Lens last week. Arsenal won the league. PSG want the cup. There's your final.
It's a genuinely compelling dynamic — Arsenal's odds in that Champions League tie carry the weight of a title-winning squad full of momentum, while PSG have the continental pedigree and an axe to grind. Gasly's confidence isn't misplaced.
World Cup loyalties further down the pitlane
Elsewhere in the paddock, Sergio Perez has a different kind of football mission. The Mexican is ready to fly back from Europe mid-season specifically to watch Mexico play at the World Cup, with matches scheduled in his home city of Guadalajara. "It's a World Cup at home. Anything can happen," he said, cautiously.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli had the most honest answer of all. With Italy absent from the tournament, the Mercedes driver admitted he's floating — leaning toward Brazil for their style, but also "cheering for Messi," who he got to meet in Miami. "Italy is not in it, unfortunately. So we're going to wait another four years, maybe," Antonelli said. "It's a disaster, but it's okay."
It really is a disaster. But at least Hamilton got his moment first.
