Formula 1 star Pierre Gasly fanboys over ‘biggest legend in France’ Zinedine Zidane, who becomes Alpine’s ambassador in shock announcement

Football icon Zinedine Zidane has surprisingly been announced as an ambassador for the Alpine Formula 1 team.

The 50-year-old Frenchman is well known for his success at Juventus and Real Madrid during an illustrious career as a player.

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His success continued as a manager, leading Madrid three consecutive Champions League titles.

Zidane also won the World Cup with France in 1998, but has now ventured out to the world of motorsport.

During the presentation of their new car for the 2023 season, Alpine revealed the former midfielder as an ambassador.

He said: “I’m very happy to be here today and to spend a great evening with you.

“I’ve seen great things and I’m ever so happy to be part of this team, to be part of the Alpine team, to be with you tonight.”

The Frenchman also jokingly said: “I’m sorry, my English is very bad.”

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Zidane is not stranger to Formula 1, having been spotted at Grands Prix in the past.

When asked why he chose Alpine, he added: “Why? It’s always a meeting that is starting something and I know that I had the opportunity to meet Laurent [Rossi, team director] with Davide [Brivio, racing director] and the whole team.

“The Alpine team, for a Grand Prix and I think we had a good exchange, we shared everything together and I think Alpine and Laurent had a project to give the opportunity to young people.

“To have their opportunities for all the young talent. I was very interested in this project and I said ‘why not see us again?’

“We are talking about it tonight and we are altogether here tonight.”

Alpine came fourth in the Constructors’ Championship last year, an impressive standing for the team.

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Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon are their two drivers, with the former expressing his delight at the appointment.

When asked about the arrival of Zidane, the fellow Frenchman said: “I don’t think I have the words!

“Since I was a kid I’ve been a huge fan of him. My racing number, number ten, is partly thanks to him. I started playing football when I was five until I was 11-years-old.

“Definitely the biggest legend or icon in France. I’ve been able to spend like half an hour with him backstage and I was asking him tons of questions about his experiences, his career. He’s a very, very inspiring person.”

The 2023 Championship commences on Sunday, 6 March with the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is the reigning champion, and Alpine will be hoping Zidane’s addition can help guide them to glory this year.