“An Incredible Speaker”: Barack Obama’s Charismatic Personality Once Lured Red Bull Outcast to Make a Special Request

Former US President Barack Obama is well known for his passion for sports. Spotted at various events during his presidency, he has been an inspiration for many due to his all-around interests and the gravitas that he carries. But what made him loved by millions was the display of his intellect, humor and speeches. And though he might already be a favorite of several celebrities across the NBA, MLB, and NFL, there was a rather surprising addition to his fandom in 2018.

It was none other than the now-former Red Bull and AlphaTauri driver, Pierre Gasly, who expressed his desire to have dinner with the former president.

In an interview with FormulaPassion, Gasly said, “If I could choose to have dinner with one person it would be Barack Obama. He’s a very intelligent person of whom I’ve seen many speeches.”

The Frenchman added, “He’s an incredible speaker, he has a lot of charisma and he always seems to be one step ahead of everybody else. A person that thinks much quicker than others.”

The following year, Gasly got the opportunity of a lifetime to drive for a top team, like Red Bull, alongside the now two-time champion Max Verstappen. Sadly, the 26-year-old couldn’t measure up to the Dutchman and was dropped off by the Austrian team in the middle of the season.

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Coming back to Pierre Gasly’s response to a peculiar question, it clearly highlighted his admiration for former US President Barack Obama. However, the 44th President of the United States isn’t the only one who makes Gasly’s ‘dinner’ list. 

Pierre Gasly’s famous dinner with Michael Jordan

The 2022 Miami Grand Prix was a blast, with the glamor spilling everywhere on and off the track. And it started days before the racing weekend, as we saw several crossovers between different sports.

But arguably, the winner of all the meet-ups was Pierre Gasly, who had dinner with basketball legend Michael Jordan! The Frenchman was absolutely fanboying and gushing over the American, As quoted by ESPN, he said, “It was by far like the best experience of my life. The most inspiring dinner I’ve ever had, and I’ve been since a kid always inspired by this guy, his mentality, and the success he has had in his career.”

Jordan also signed Gasly’s Air Jordan sneakers, to which the latter said, “That is going in my safe at home or in my trophy cabinet.”

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Now that this was Gasly’s best experience, dinner with Obama already has a challenger, and if that happens, Gasly’s pick for his favorite meal would undoubtedly be a tough choice.