"Thanks Novak for the classes": Djokovic leads F1 stars through playful yoga in Qatar

Novak Djokovic, fresh off a triumphant 2025 season capped with a title in Athens, is taking some well-earned time off. The 24-time Grand Slam champion star made a surprise visit to Lusail, Qatar, coinciding with the Qatar Grand Prix. The stopover provided a rare crossover between tennis and motorsport when Djokovic met Argentine F1 driver Franco Colapinto, who will compete for Alpine in the penultimate race of the season. Their encounter quickly turned into a light-hearted and memorable moment, shared widely on social media.

The Lusail International Circuit hosted a special movement and yoga session organized by one of Alpine’s sponsors. Djokovic led the session, demonstrating exercises that balanced flexibility, strength, and mindfulness. Colapinto joined in, trying to follow the tennis champion’s movements, and captured the moment on his social media with a humorous post: “Thanks Novak for the classes. I couldn’t keep up with the warm-up, I’m so stiff.”

Djokovic’s presence highlighted not just his athleticism but his playful and approachable side. Known for his intense work ethic and mental toughness on the tennis court, he showed that even champions take time to relax, connect, and share knowledge outside their own sport. For Colapinto, the session was an opportunity to experience the discipline and balance that define Djokovic’s success, providing inspiration ahead of the high-stakes weekend at the Lusail Circuit.

The yoga session provided more than entertainment—it offered insights into Djokovic’s approach to training and wellness. Exercises emphasizing flexibility, core strength, and mindfulness are critical for longevity in tennis, and Colapinto quickly realized the intensity behind Djokovic’s methods. “It was incredible to see how Novak moves and stretches,” Colapinto said. “Even a few minutes made me realize how much work goes into being number one.” The experience allowed the Argentine driver to appreciate the universality of athletic discipline, even outside motorsport.

For Colapinto, the Qatar Grand Prix represents a crucial stage in his 2025 F1 campaign. After this race, he will travel to Abu Dhabi to conclude the season, aiming to replicate Alpine’s strong performance from the previous year. The playful yoga encounter with Djokovic, however, served as both a motivational boost and a reminder that balance and recovery are vital, no matter how high the stakes. It also gave fans a glimpse of the camaraderie and cross-disciplinary respect among elite athletes.

Djokovic, meanwhile, continues to enjoy a well-deserved off-season. After a year of rigorous competition, in which, at 38 years old and competing in barely a handful of tournaments this season, he managed to position himself as No. 4 in the ATP Ranking – only behind Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Alexander Zverev.

The Serbian played just 13 tournaments over the season, yet he won two ATP 250 titles and reached the semi-finals in all four Grand Slams of the year. He qualified third for the ATP Finals but opted to withdraw from the tournament at the last minute. Among the players who did compete, six of them had to play upwards of 20 tournaments during the year to make it into the season's top 8, whereas Djokovic needed only 13 – before declining his qualification due to an injury.

Djokovic will go for a new season in 2026 with the objective of staying in the fight for another Grand Slam title. His first challenge will be the Australian Open, where, as the 4th seed, he will be able to avoid Sinner and Alcaraz until a potential semi-final. The former world No. 1 also hopes to return to the Davis Cup, where Serbia was recently drawn to face Chile in the Qualifiers in February – and it remains to be seen whether Nole will attend the South American country.