Marco Bezzecchi
It has recently been reported that four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is interested in buying a MotoGP team.
It comes after Liberty Media confirmed their takeover of MotoGP from Dorna after months of negotiations. The American company have enjoyed meteoric success with F1, dramatically increasing the sport’s popularity and global audience.
They hope to replicate that success in MotoGP, with the sport going through radical changes in the next couple of years. The 2027 regulations will shake up the pecking order, with new 850cc bikes, the banning of the ride height device and Pirelli joining as the official tyre supplier.
With MotoGP projected to have the same rise in popularity under Liberty, many key figures from the world of F1 have been looking to get involved. Guenther Steiner completed his takeover of Tech3 during the Catalan Grand Prix, assuming control from Herve Poncharal in 2026.
It was reported during the Catalan GP weekend that Verstappen was looking to buy a MotoGP team. He joins seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in expressing an interest in the sport and a desire to lead an outfit, but the Brit’s past talks should act as a warning.
Lewis Hamilton’s stalled MotoGP talks should act as a warning to Max Verstappen
Hamilton wants Liberty to modernise MotoGP under their ownership. It is no secret that the 40-year-old is passionate about the sport and is looking to become an investor in a team.
He was previously linked with Gresini, but talks seem to have stalled in recent months. Gresini would not sell the team to Hamilton even for a high price; he had put a strong offer on the table for the team last year, who then boasted Marc Marquez in their line-up.
Hamilton was also linked with KTM amid the Austrian manufacturer’s desperate financial crisis. His deal collapsed as the team were looking for a saviour, not just an investor.
It is plausible that Verstappen could get a deal done for a MotoGP team, with LCR and Trackhouse being the teams reportedly of interest. Steiner’s Tech3 deal is evidence of that, but Hamilton has proved that things could also be difficult.
Gresini expect their value to increase dramatically under Liberty’s ownership, with teams currently being valued, according to The Race, at around 20 million euros (roughly £17.3m). That is a bargain price, allowing potential owners to make a huge profit in the next few years.
Gresini clearly want to hold on for a larger fee as their value could skyrocket under Liberty. LCR and Trackhouse could hold a similar view, which could mean Verstappen must dish out a heavy fee to buy a team, or like Hamilton, he is outright turned away.
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Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen could compete against each other on two and four wheels
Hamilton and Verstappen have been battling it out in F1 for years, sparking a huge rivalry during the infamous 2021 season. Their rivalry could soon extend to two wheels as well as four if they can strike a deal to buy a MotoGP team.
It is unclear where Hamilton currently stands with buying a team, with Gresini seemingly uninterested and KTM saved from insolvency by Bajaj Auto. Verstappen is now the latest F1 figure to express an interest in MotoGP.
LCR would seem the most plausible team for the Dutchman to get involved with, given his connections to Honda. Verstappen won his four world championships with Red Bull while being powered by the Japanese manufacturer.
Lucio Cecchinello’s team have enjoyed success in 2025, with Johann Zarco winning at Le Mans. Trackhouse, Verstappen’s second team of interest, are a solid midfield outfit, with Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez scoring regular points on the Aprilia RS-GP25.
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