Neither F1 nor MotoGP are any strangers to ridiculous rumors, a incontrovertible fact that anybody who’s paid any consideration to both (or each) sequence can let you know from expertise. And you aren’t getting to be a seven-time F1 world championship driver like Lewis Hamilton if you have not additionally dealt along with your justifiable share of rumors all through your profession.
However it appears to be like like at the least one notably persistent rumor involving one of many UK’s best presents to fashionable F1 may need legs.
Now, ever since talks about F1 proprietor Liberty Media additionally buying MotoGP began in earnest, there’s been hypothesis about Hamilton getting into the MotoGP paddock, almost definitely as a crew proprietor. That is to say nothing of the potential spectacle on supply if a F1/MotoGP double header was to ever materialize.
Earlier in 2024, there was a whiff of a rumor that Hamilton might be in talks to purchase Gresini. A number of months later, Hamilton was once more linked to potential MotoGP crew possession. This time, it was with the struggling Honda crew, which is unquestionably due for a turnaround in its fortunes after a lackluster season.
Now that we’re on the finish of 2024, might the third time be the allure? Perhaps so, as KTM MotoGP boss Pit Beirer dropped a few bombshells beneath the mistletoe to cap off KTM’s rollercoaster of a vacation season.
Whereas the potential Liberty Media acquisition of MotoGP is presently beneath intense investigation by the European Fee over antitrust considerations, all events are nonetheless presently continuing as if the deal is already executed. In any case, there’s actually billions of Euros, or a barely totally different (however nonetheless mega) quantity of {dollars} on the road.
In that gentle, Pit Beirer spoke to German motorsports stalwart Speedweek, looking for to allay fears that KTM might bow out of MotoGP prematurely as a result of difficulties confronted by different arms of its group. Now, Beirer says, the KTM MotoGP is open to talks not solely with potential sponsors, but additionally with potential buyers.
Buyers corresponding to Lewis Hamilton, because it seems.
Very particularly, Beirer stated, “All I can say is that we’ve got had very attention-grabbing discussions along with his administration. It’s no secret that Lewis Hamilton is curious about MotoGP and is considering having his personal crew. There are concrete discussions right here too.”
What about Hamilton’s long-term partnership with Pink Bull rival Monster Vitality? Beirer had a solution for this, too. ” “Everybody who desires to work with us is aware of how shut we’re – Pink Bull and KTM are inseparable. That has not been a problem within the negotiations up to now,” Beirer informed Speedweek.
It is nonetheless all simply speak till somebody indicators on a dotted line. We all know this. Whether or not something really materializes from any of this stays to be seen. However actually anybody who’s been listening to this complete mega-circus has most likely been seeing the puzzle items match collectively like this for ages.
Hamilton would not be the primary F1 champ to make the transfer to a high-level worldwide bike racing sequence. In any case, we noticed Kimi Raikkonen hop fortunately right into a management position with Kawasaki in MXGP a couple of years again. In Hamilton’s case, the timing would nearly be poetic if the Liberty Media deal goes by way of, too.
What do you consider Hamilton probably coming in to assist rescue the KTM MotoGP crew? Too little, too late, or do you assume he’d be the best individual to assist get the crew on strong footing going ahead? Tell us your ideas within the feedback.
