Toto Wolff pinpoints the biggest difference between Marc Marquez and Lewis Hamilton

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Marc Marquez is charging towards a seventh MotoGP world championship in 2025. His victory at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend took him 40 points clear of his brother Alex.

For the first time this season, Marquez has a Grand Prix and a Sprint win in his pocket. He’s now produced back-to-back perfect weekends.

It could be argued that the gap is only respectable because of the Spaniard’s occasional mistakes. In the seven races where he’s stayed upright, he’s maintained a 100% podium record and bagged five victories.

A seventh title would take Marquez level with F1 counterpart Lewis Hamilton. Many would label it his ninth, factoring in his Moto3 and Moto2 triumphs.

Marquez scored the 100th pole position of his Grand Prix career at Mugello. And he’s now just one premier-class victory away from tying Giacomo Agostini (68).

Toto Wolff praises Marc Marquez’s ‘easy’ adaptation to Ducati

During an interview on the Bloomberg Hot Pursuit podcast recently, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was asked about Marquez. He’s kept an eye on MotoGP this season amid the Spaniard’s dominance.

While the Ant of Cervera was the favourite for the title, he was expected to face a stern test from teammate Francesco Bagnaia. After a year at satellite team Gresini, Marquez was jumping two years in specification, while Bagnaia had spent his entire career on Desmosedici motorcycles.

Marquez’s promotion to the Ducati factory team was one of the biggest stories in motorsport over the winter, along with Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari. But the latter has struggled since relocating to Italy.

Hamilton hasn’t even finished on the podium, let alone won a race. While both are unquestionable in the ‘GOAT’ conversation in their sports, Wolff says ‘some adapt easier’ than others.

“There are these exceptional athletes that are clearly outstanding in their category,” Wolff said. “[Marquez] has shown that switching manufacturers hasn’t affected him. On the contrary, he’s great on the Ducati as well.

“How many world championships has Marc Marquez won? Eight? Like Lewis, right. These are the greats. Some adapt easier, some take a little bit of time, but Lewis Hamilton is one of the greatest GOATs of all time.”

Marc Marquez may inspire unwanted rule change when Liberty Media acquire MotoGP

Another similarity between Hamilton and Marquez is that both have been booed in Italy. The Englishman has received a hostile reception at Monza in the past amid his rivalry with Ferrari’s drivers.

And Marquez was whistled at Mugello last weekend after both the Sprint and the Grand Prix. He was previously the nemesis of Italian hero Valentino Rossi.

He hasn’t won the championship since 2019, a year before Hamilton’s last triumph. But 2025 is starting to look like a procession.

While he’s beaten in four out of nine Grands Prix, Marquez has won eight Sprint races this year. New owners Liberty Media may have to change the rules, with the current format often allowing the early leader to cruise to victory.