Max Verstappen is one of the biggest names in Formula 1, but the Red Bull driver may soon follow Guenther Steiner across to the MotoGP paddock by buying his own team.
Interest in owning a MotoGP team is expanding extensively after F1’s owner, Liberty Media, finalised its takeover of the premier class of two-wheeled motorsport. Liberty is now widely expected to shuffle MotoGP into a new era, like it did with the four-wheeled championship.
Steiner has already got on board at an early stage, after the ex-Haas F1 team principal led a consortium in buying the Tech3 MotoGP team. It soon emerged that Red Bull’s Verstappen and his bitter rival, Ferrari ace Lewis Hamilton, are also interested in buying MotoGP teams.
It is said that Verstappen would not be ultra-involved if he owned a MotoGP team, with the four-time F1 champion seeking the same philosophy that Valentino Rossi adopted for VR46. It has even been said that Verstappen would be interested in securing shares in Trackhouse.
Davide Brivio believes it would be ‘premature’ for Trackhouse to sell amid Max Verstappen’s interest
Verstappen’s camp approached Aprilia to discuss buying their shares in Trackhouse, which would make him a minority shareholder in the American squad. The Dutchman is unlikely to become the full owner of Trackhouse, as Justin Marks is determined to continue his project.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Trackhouse including the MotoGP team’s riders
Marks also established very close ties with Aprilia when Trackhouse took over the RNF team ahead of the 2024 MotoGP season. Those ties only strengthened in 2025, as well, as Aprilia agreed to provide Trackhouse full factory-spec bikes for both Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez.
So, with Liberty’s impact in MotoGP also yet to develop, Trackhouse team principal Davide Brivio thinks it would be premature for Marks to sell the team. But while the race team are not considering selling up, Brivio cannot speak for the parent Trackhouse Media company.
“There’s definitely growing interest,” Brivio told Cycle World, when questioned about the reports linking Verstappen with potentially buying shares in Trackhouse. “Liberty Media did an incredible job with Formula 1, and now everyone expects a similar transformation here.
“Team values are rising, and audience numbers are up across the board. So, yes, it’s better to buy now than in three or four years. People are evaluating their options.
“From our perspective, selling the team now would be premature. It makes more sense to wait. But, ultimately, that’s a decision for the ownership.”
Davide Brivio confirms Trackhouse have been approached about selling the MotoGP team
Brivio saw what Liberty managed in F1 while at Alpine, as he worked for the Renault-owned team from 2021 to 2023 following Suzuki’s withdrawal from MotoGP. Brivio then took over Trackhouse in February 2024, and he has seen Marks’ commitment to the project first-hand.
So, as Marks took over the RNF team to create Trackhouse at “the right time” and may soon reap the rewards of Liberty’s takeover of MotoGP, Brivio would be surprised to see the team hit the market. Yet Brivio’s view has not stopped some parties from expressing their interest.
Brivio added: “He had the good foresight to enter at the right time, at the right price. So, yes, it would be premature to sell now. But again, that’s up to the Trackhouse board.
“Some of the parties expressing interest have contacted all six independent teams. I think everyone has received at least one call.”
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