WHICH MOTOGP TEAM IS LEWIS HAMILTON BUYING? THE LATEST ON THE 2026 RUMORS
Lewis Hamilton praises Valentino Rossi and eyes MotoGP team investment as F1 and MotoGP worlds merge under Liberty Media in 2026.
Lewis Hamilton and Valentino Rossi—two giants, both with seven world titles—really stand out as all-time legends in their sports.
Hamilton’s numbers in Formula 1 are unmatched. Most wins, most podiums, most poles. Seven championships, tying Michael Schumacher for the top spot. He grabbed his first title with McLaren back in 2008, then switched to Mercedes in 2013 and racked up six more between 2014 and 2020. He’s firmly among the sport’s best. But things could’ve gone another way.
Chatting with Rossi on Sky Sports, Hamilton admitted he actually wanted to race motocross bikes, but his dad shut that dream down. Still, he’s always admired MotoGP—and Rossi especially.
Rossi joined the top class in 2000 after bagging the 125cc and 250cc titles. He went on a tear, winning five straight championships from 2001 to 2005 with Honda and Yamaha. In 2008 and 2009, he won back-to-back titles with Yamaha again, cementing his place as one of MotoGP’s all-time greats. Like every career, though, his eventually wrapped up—he called it quits in 2021.
Hamilton felt the loss. After Rossi’s rocky stint at Ducati, he returned to Yamaha and went toe-to-toe with Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo for more championships, finishing runner-up three times and third once before he retired at the end of 2021.
Not long before that, Hamilton and Rossi actually swapped machines—Hamilton tried Rossi’s Yamaha MotoGP bike, and Rossi got behind the wheel of Hamilton’s Mercedes F1 car. At the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Hamilton spoke about Rossi’s retirement:
“It’s sad to see him stop, but his drive, his approach, just everything he’s done has been incredible,” Hamilton said. “The passion he’s shown all these years really stands out. He’s such a legend—maybe the greatest ever. It’ll be strange not watching him race and doing his thing, but it’s a great moment for him, too, with his family starting to grow. I’m grateful I got to share that amazing day with him on track. I’ll never forget it.”
Hamilton’s love for MotoGP hasn’t faded. He’s even been linked to buying a team. Rumour had it he was interested in the Ducati satellite team Gresini, but they turned him down. There was talk about KTM, too, as they searched for investors for the 2025 season.
With Liberty Media buying MotoGP from Dorna, it’s no wonder more F1 names are sniffing around the paddock. Max Verstappen’s name has come up, and Guenther Steiner already runs KTM Tech3. The worlds of F1 and MotoGP keep getting closer.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
