Marco Bezzecchi
Formula 1 star Max Verstappen has been linked with buying a MotoGP team, but he has had numerous opportunities to complete a takeover that have fallen through.
The Red Bull driver’s interest in MotoGP has been apparent throughout his life, having been an avid fan since a young age. Now, Verstappen is said to want to get involved in the sport as an investor.
It comes as Liberty Media is expected to skyrocket the global market of MotoGP, having taken over from Dorna last year. Given their success with F1, many MotoGP teams’ values could rise exponentially, creating an opportunity for owners and buyers.
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Guenther Steiner has already bought Tech3 and plans to take over the whole KTM operation. Since his takeover was finalised in 2025, many other F1 figures have looked to join MotoGP.
Lewis Hamilton held talks with Gresini over a potential deal, but the team are unwilling to sell to another buyer or investor. Verstappen has also been speaking to teams, and he now could have the green light.
Max Verstappen has now got the green light to buy the Trackhouse MotoGP team
It was widely reported that Verstappen was interested in buying 100% of a satellite team. As aforementioned, these outfits’ values are set to rise significantly under Liberty’s ownership, and come 2027, they can, in theory, design their own chassis.
Of the six satellite teams on the current grid, LCR and Trackhouse were the two commonly mentioned. However, the likelihood of Verstappen striking a deal with either one was slim to none.
LCR boss Lucio Cecchinello is said to be uninterested in selling 100% of the team, but would be open to having a minority investor on board. Likewise, Trackhouse owner Justin Marks wanted to keep his team, thus ruling out Verstappen completing a takeover.
However, that now appears to have changed. According to a report from GPOne, Marks would not be ‘averse’ to selling his team, and he has supposedly received an offer that is higher than what Steiner paid for Tech3.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Trackhouse including the MotoGP team’s riders
Will Trackhouse be an Aprilia satellite team in 2027?
With Marks open to selling up, Verstappen would have the green light to begin negotiations with Trackhouse. The team could look very different come the 2027 season.
The American outfit’s contract with Aprilia expires at the end of the 2026 season, with the next contract cycle running from 2027 to 2031. With the chaos of the MotoGP rider market, there has also been speculation about teams changing manufacturers.
Aprilia have been linked with VR46, as Valentino Rossi is looking at potentially moving his team away from Ducati. Given the Noale outfit’s limited budget, if VR46 were to join, it would mean that Trackhouse would have to make way.
Rumours have suggested that Trackhouse are already in negotiations with Honda, with the Japanese giants looking to add a second satellite team to their ranks. However, Massimo Rivola says Trackhouse are Aprilia’s ‘priority’ amid the links to VR46.
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