Lewis Hamilton has expressed a keen interest in MotoGP in the past, and the team principal of Trackhouse Racing has recently predicted how the seven-time F1 world champion would fare in the premier class.
While there haven’t been any F1 drivers who have made the switch to MotoGP in the premier class’s modern era, plenty of them made the swap from four wheels to two, and vice-versa, during the first few decades of each respective sport.
John Surtees remains the only man to have won world championships in both categories, which is a remarkable feat in itself.
After becoming a seven-time world champion across the 350cc and 500cc categories, the British star tried his hand at F1 in 1960. Surtees went on to win the 1964 F1 title, beating some of the best drivers of the generation in Graham Hill and Jim Clark.
MotoGP boss Davide Brivio predicts how Lewis Hamilton would perform on two wheels
The most recent transition nearly came in the form of MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi. The nine-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing champion tested for Ferrari in 2006, and lapped just 0.7 seconds off of Michael Schumacher’s benchmarks.
The drive was so impressive that the Ferrari chairman at the time, Luca di Montezemolo, wanted to field a third car in order for him to compete.
In the end, the opportunity didn’t work out, and the Italian went on to taste further success on two wheels.
During an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Rossi’s former boss, Davide Brivio, highlighted The Doctor as someone he would have loved to have seen in F1, while also choosing the two F1 drivers he’d like to see in MotoGP.
He said, “If I had to choose a MotoGP driver to bring to F1, regardless of the era, I’d choose Rossi.
“Valentino came close to making the transition and is truly passionate. He’s also talented, as his new career demonstrates.
“Instead, I’d bring Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen from F1 to MotoGP. They know everything about the World Championship.
“It would be great, even if the transition from four to two wheels would be difficult. It’s easier to do the opposite.”
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have recently expressed interest in buying a MotoGP team
In a 2019 event, Hamilton traded machinery with Rossi and tested the Italian’s Yamaha prototype at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, while the Italian drove his 2017 Mercedes-AMG W08.
The Briton has also been linked with purchasing a MotoGP outfit in recent years. He was heavily rumoured to be interested in a buyout of Gresini Racing in late 2024 and, more recently, has been in talks regarding an investment in KTM, who have faced financial restructuring.
Verstappen has joined his once fierce rival in the venture, too. Last year, reports surfaced that detailed how the Dutchman’s management made inquiries into acquiring stakes in satellite teams like LCR Honda and Brivio’s Trackhouse outfit.
While his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, has highlighted that a deal isn’t imminent, the goal is to integrate MotoGP into the growing Verstappen.com Racing portfolio, which already includes GT3 and sim racing.
