Carlos Sainz says MotoGP fans will realise something about Marc Marquez after he retires from MotoGP

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Marc Marquez has no plans to retire from MotoGP despite completing his comeback from injury. Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz thinks his image will change when he does eventually hang up his helmet.

Marquez clinched the 2025 world championship in Japan last month, his seventh premier-class title and his ninth overall. At 32, he’s become the oldest title winner of the MotoGP era and matched his great rival Valentino Rossi.

It had been six years since Marquez’s last triumph – the longest gap in the series’ modern history. The intervening period included four different surgeries on a career-threatening arm injury.

Marquez plans to sign a new contract with Ducati next year when he enters the market. That will likely extend his career until at least the end of 2028.

After working with the Spaniard at Honda, Livio Suppo says Marquez will only retire when he feels he’s no longer the best. Despite being the second-oldest rider on the grid, he won 25 out of a possible 36 races before his injury.

Carlos Sainz calls Marc Marquez the ‘Ayrton Senna’ of MotoGP

In an interview with El Partidazo de COPE, Formula 1 driver Sainz commented on Marquez’s 2025 season. He has made a mockery of a ‘very competitive’ class.

Sainz was one of the F1 drivers who congratulated Marquez when he sealed the title. He was a guest in the Gresini garage in Jerez last year.

The Williams driver believes Marquez will be even more highly regarded by MotoGP fans when he retires, and they realise how ‘charismatic’ and talented he really was.

Sainz compared him to the late Ayrton Senna, who is perhaps more appreciated by the current generation than he was during his late 80s/early 90s pomp.

“MotoGP too, the truth is that it’s very competitive,” Sainz said. “It’s true that Marc has dominated, because when it comes to taking pole and winning the race, he’s number one.

“For me, Marc Marquez is the Senna of MotoGP. As we are living now in the present, maybe we don’t realise it, but the day that Marc Marquez retires and the years go by, everyone will remember Marc Marquez as the closest thing to Ayrton Senna, as the most charismatic rider.

“I also want to send him my congratulations. I already congratulated him because he’s done a great job this year. I credit him for the comeback.”

Is the rider who will convince Marc Marquez to retire?

If Marquez will only retire when he’s unseated from the MotoGP throne, then who will be the rider to do it?

Jorge Lorenzo believes Pedro Acosta is the biggest threat to Marquez, even if he currently lacks the machinery to compete. Acosta could be riding a Desmosedici in 2027 but his future is uncertain.

Fermin Aldeguer looks destined to ride for Ducati, though. He underlined his status as the brand’s future star with a first career win in Indonesia last weekend.

Already, Aldeguer has the edge on Marquez when it comes to corner speed. If they’re teammates in a couple of years, there could be a changing-of-the-guard moment, but the future rarely pans out as neatly as expected.