Instead of a suit and tie, Petr Pavel wore a media vest and carried a camera: The Czech president was at the Formula 1 race as an amateur photographer
Visits by high-ranking politicians to Formula 1 races are not uncommon. Heads of state, heads of government, and ministers are regularly seen in the paddock. They are usually given a tour of the pits or the starting grid by FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem or Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and are invited to present trophies on the winner’s podium after the race.
So, at first glance, it’s not surprising that Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic, was a guest at last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring. He was seen there in the paddock accompanied by bin Sulayem, but something was different.
Pavel wasn’t wearing a suit and tie, but rather a full set of camera gear, a media vest, and official FIA accreditation. The 62-year-old wasn’t in Hungary in an official capacity; instead, he was pursuing his hobby at the Formula 1 event: sports photography—with a particular passion for motorsports.
This isn’t the first time Pavel has been spotted at a major motorsports event as an amateur photographer. Just last June, he traveled to France to cover the 24 Hours of Le Mans—naturally, also with his full photography gear.
The retired general and former chairman of the NATO Military Committee has attended numerous races on two and four wheels over the years. In his native Czech Republic, Pavel photographed, among other events, the MotoGP and Superbike World Championship races in Brno.
His passion for photography has also taken him to the U.S. for NASCAR and to Saudi Arabia for the Dakar Rally. Some of his photos from the 2025 Dakar Rally, where he also supported the Czech participants, were subsequently exhibited at the National Technical Museum in Prague.
Pavel also uses his hobby to support a good cause: Last year, by auctioning off a photo album, he raised nearly 30,000 euros for a charity that supports children, single parents, and seniors.
