Moto2 team owner shares what Gresini told Lewis Hamilton after lucrative takeover offer

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Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton was linked with the Gresini MotoGP team last year. And now one Moto2 team boss has offered insight on what happened during negotiations.

Hamilton, who has won seven F1 world championships, has a passion for motorbikes. Having invested in NFL franchise the Denver Broncos and tried to buy a stake in Chelsea Football Club, he wants to expand his portfolio with a MotoGP team.

The Race reported during the summer that Hamilton was in talks with Gresini over a potential takeover. Nadia Padovani, widow of the founder Fausto, currently owns the team.

A member of Hamilton’s camp was apparently a guest of the Faenza outfit at Assen. With F1’s commercial rights holders Liberty Media looking to acquire MotoGP, the series may be more attractive than ever.

Gresini may not be a factory squad, but they have scored multiple top-three finishes in both the riders’ and teams’ championships. They also signed six-time premier-class Marc Marquez for the 2024 season.

Gresini told Lewis Hamilton they wouldn’t sell even with ‘a lot of money’ on the table

In the end, the Gresini/Hamilton deal didn’t materialise. And speaking to journalist Manuel Pecino, MT Helmets – MSi owner Teo Martin offered some insight as to why.

Hamilton apparently offered ‘a lot of money’, but Gresini refused to sell. Padovani seemed intent on keeping the team, rather than extracting more from the prospective buyer.

Martin noted the extent of the interest in MotoGP in recent times. Hamilton ‘climbed the latter’, but he’s yet to establish a firm foothold.

“Everyone wants to get into MotoGP now,” he said. “Hamilton is the one who climbed the ladder a bit. He offered Gresini a lot of money for the team, and they told him they wouldn’t sell it to him. Now the press is saying KTM – I don’t know.”

KTM have chosen next step after Lewis Hamilton MotoGP investment talks

Hamilton has since looked elsewhere as he looks to invest in MotoGP. KTM is his latest target.

The Austrian team are in the midst of a financial crisis, with more than £2bn of debt. The company’s share price has nonetheless increased in recent weeks.

However, KTM are unlikely to agree a deal with Hamilton. That’s because they’re looking for a broader saviour rather than an investor, and the Ferrari driver doesn’t have the necessary resources available.

One journalist has claimed Hamilton may be eyeing KTM’s grid spots. If they do have to withdraw from MotoGP, he could then sell them to another manufacturer.