MIAMI – Pierre Gasly driving Formula One cars for a living and can boast of being a Grand Prix winner, but he says the best experience of his life so far has been dining with Michael Jordan this week before the Miami Gand Prix.
Gasly, the driver for Red Bull’s AlphaTauri team, met the NBA legend and F1 fan this week. The couple was able to arrange the dinner through a joint sponsor.
Gasly then posted a photo on social media of Jordan wearing one of his racing helmets.
In return, the former Chicago Bull player signed a pair of Gasly’s Air Jordan sneakers.
“It’s going on in my safe at home or in my trophy cabinet,” beamed Gasly said Thursday during a media session at Hard Rock Stadium.
When asked about the dinner, he said: “It was the best experience of my life.
“The most inspiring dinner I’ve ever had, and since I was a kid I’ve always been inspired by this guy, his intellect and the success he’s had in his career.
“Everybody says you should never meet your idol, because you can only be disappointed and for me it’s the complete opposite. He’s just a genius. He’s in a different league, just a genius mentality, a smart way of thinking.” “
Jordan owns a NASCAR team and is a keen F1 fan – Gasly was amazed at how knowledgeable the former Chicago Bull is about the sport.
“I’m very, very impressed. I didn’t know he was such a big F1 fan that almost knows the sport better than I do!
“It is impressive and wonderful to be discussed with such a legend. A dinner I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Gasly was asked about the prospect of racing with Jordan’s NASCAR team at some point in the future, and he laughed and said, “It could happen. It could happen.”
After Gasly spoke to the media on Thursday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, teammate Yuki Tsunoda, now in his second F1 season, replaced him at the table during his private practice session. .
Tsunoda wore a new pair of Air Jordans but didn’t get the same chance as Gasly.
When asked by ESPN if he would see Jordan, Tsunoda said: “No, I would, but Pierre didn’t invite me!
“I didn’t meet Michael. I’m really jealous of Pierre for meeting him, I think all the drivers are jealous. It’s nice to know that he’s met him. I’ve heard Pierre talk about him. like and how impressed he was with him.
“I’m jealous but I’ll say [Gasly] has been driving in Formula One for five years so he deserves to see him…me, not yet! “
