What Max Verstappen has privately said to Valentino Rossi as he looks to invest in MotoGP

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Max Verstappen is interested in buying a MotoGP team, it emerged during the Catalan Grand Prix weekend. The four-time F1 world champion is anticipating a surge in the sport’s revenues.

Liberty Media have recently acquired MotoGP from Dorna Sports. Since they bought Formula 1 in 2017, the value of the championship has roughly doubled.

For Verstappen and other interested parties, it seems now is the time to strike. Former Haas F1 team boss Guenther Steiner announced a deal to buy the Tech3 team from Herve Poncharal during the Barcelona weekend.

Verstappen’s great F1 rival Lewis Hamilton held talks over buying the Gresini team last year. There was also talk that he may invest in an embattled KTM operation, but they are now under new ownership.

Max Verstappen has told Valentino Rossi he’s interested in VR46 stake

According to a report from Motorsport Espana, Verstappen’s management have held talks with the LCR team. They’re currently allied with Honda, who have powered all four of the Dutchman’s title-winning F1 cars.

But one team director, who has received an enquiry, says Verstappen’s ‘people’ have contacted every privateer team. That means that the F1 icon has spoken to Valentino Rossi, the VR46 owner, to indicate that he’s interested in a takeover.

At this stage, Verstappen’s overtures haven’t ‘borne fruit’. But he can start to cross names off the list and zero in on the most likely targets.

Tech3 are naturally off the table, while a deal with Pramac is also considered unlikely. In addition to LCR and VR46, that just leaves Gresini and Trackhouse.

What Max Verstappen’s agent has said about MotoGP interest

It’s feasible that Verstappen and Hamilton end up in a bidding war for one of the teams listed. But a deal won’t be straightforward because incumbent owners will also be anticipating a sharp increase in the value of their asset.

Speaking at the weekend, Verstappen’s manager and agent Raymond Vermeulen played down the rumours, saying: “It’s no secret that he is interested in MotoGP, but taking over a team is not realistic at the moment. Everything would really have to fall into place.”

It’s unclear whether Verstappen has backing from any external parties to finance a full takeover. It was reported earlier this year that Hamilton couldn’t afford to buy KTM alone, and one would imagine the Red Bull driver is in a similar position.

Dorna promised Steiner that he would control Tech3’s grid slots as their new owner. In doing so, they sent a powerful signal to prospective investors, who may have designs on luring another manufacturer to MotoGP long-term.