Marco Bezzecchi
Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is a big fan of MotoGP. And the admiration he has for the Grand Prix riders seems to be mutual.
Back in 2019, Hamilton memorably swapped machinery with MotoGP icon and fellow Monster Energy ambassador Valentino Rossi. The Englishman rode the most recent Yamaha bike, while Rossi got behind the wheel of the Mercedes W10.
Hamilton has recently tried to consolidate his interest in the premier class with an investment deal. Nothing has come of it yet, but the two series could soon be united under the Liberty Media banner.
Gresini held talks with Hamilton last year, but Nadia Padovani wasn’t willing to entertain his lucrative offer in the end.
Amid their financial crisis, there was also talk that Hamilton could invest in KTM. However, they’re focused on parties that can save the company rather than just the racing operation.
Aleix Espargaro’s helmet on Honda return is inspired by Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was the biggest story in motorsport heading into 2025, even above Marc Marquez signing a factory Ducati deal. F1’s most successful driver joined its most iconic team.
And Honda test rider Aleix Espargaro has clearly bought into the mystique. Espargaro is making a wildcard appearance at the Grand Prix of Spain this weekend, having retired from full-time racing at the end of 2024.
His yellow helmet/red bike combination has conjured memories of the late TT legend Joey Dunlop. But journalist Simon Patterson says Espargaro’s look is ‘Lewis Hamilton inspired’.
Hamilton started his career at McLaren with a yellow helmet, and while he cycled through various different designs at Mercedes, he’s gone back to his roots at Ferrari. He initially chose the colour because of his idol Ayrton Senna.
Marc Marquez’s accidental Lewis Hamilton parallel at Spanish Grand Prix
Marquez compared himself to Hamilton over the winter, pointing out that their names still carry ‘weight’ amid the rise of a new generation. This was in evidence last year as Ducati signed him over Jorge Martin, who won the world championship with erstwhile satellite squad Pramac.
Likewise, Hamilton replaced the highly-rated Carlos Sainz at Ferrari. This wasn’t a reflection on Sainz; the Scuderia simply felt they couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
During Friday’s FP1 session, Marquez emulated Hamilton again, though not in the way he necessarily wanted. The 32-year-old accidentally missed his Ducati pit box and trundled along to former team Gresini.
Shortly after leaving McLaren for Mercedes in 2013, a lapse of concentration saw Hamilton visit his old employers in the pit lane. Clearly, it’s an easy mistake to make.
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