Why MotoGP should embrace rising interest in team ownership from F1 stars

The prospect of Formula 1 champions Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen following Guenther Steiner into MotoGP team ownership would give a huge boost to a series that has long sought broader international recognition.

Of course, purists might worry about the so-called ‘F1ification’ of MotoGP, especially with Liberty Media now owning the commercial rights to both championships. But the potential upside is significant for fans, teams and the series alike.

The value of MotoGP teams is expected to skyrocket in the coming years. If Hamilton and Verstappen treat them as genuine sporting ventures rather than mere investments, the championship stands to gain considerably.

Hamilton has dabbled in motorsport ownership before, having founded the X44 team to compete in Extreme E. But during his three seasons in the championship, Hamilton never attended a race himself. If it wasn’t for the ‘44’ branding, it would have been impossible to associate the team that won the 2022 XE title with Cristina Gutierrez and Sebastien Loeb with the seven-time F1 champion. It shows that the name itself isn’t enough, and any F1 star coming to MotoGP must have real involvement to leave a tangible mark on the series.

Within motor racing, there is precedent for athletes coming in from other sports, buying a team and doing it right. Most famously, NBA legend Michael Jordan joined forces with Denny Hamlin to launch the 23XI team in NASCAR in 2021. Beyond attending races on a regular basis to support the team, Jordan takes an active managerial role and has a say in major decisions, including hiring drivers. The American has also heavily invested in facilities, designing and building the race shop that 23XI prefers to call ‘AirSpeed’.

However, perhaps the biggest contribution of Jordan comes in the form of mentoring drivers, particularly Bubba Wallace, as his experience at the pinnacle of professional basketball makes him ideally suited to understand the mental side of high-pressure competition.

Michael Jordan's entry into NASCAR as team co-owner with Denny Hamlin put the series into a new spotlight

Photo by: Chris Graythen - Getty Images

Sadly, 23XI Racing’s legal battle with NASCAR over charter agreements means Jordan isn’t doing much to promote the image of the championship, but his involvement shows how MotoGP can benefit from having star power from other sporting competitions.

Hamilton, too, can demonstrate this ability in MotoGP. He has been aiding Andrea Kimi Antonelli through the challenges of his rookie F1 season and could bring similar expertise to teams like Pramac or LCR, helping Moto2 graduates adapt to the top class. And as Hamilton approaches the end of his career as an F1 driver, MotoGP team ownership could also help him keep one foot in the racing world, while simultaneously extending his legacy in the sport.

The 40-year-old has been a huge fan of motorcycles and recently turned up to the Italian Grand Prix on a Ducati superbike. In fact, he has ridden a MotoGP bike himself, having taken part in a bike and car swap with the legendary Valentino Ross at Valencia in 2019.

As long as Hamilton and Verstappen take on a bigger role in managing teams while also investing additional resources into them, there is no reason why MotoGP fans should be worried about their potential entry

While it’s hard to say when Verstappen will get tired of F1 and retire from the series, it’s no secret that he admires other forms of motorsport, and is on the verge of making his debut in the NLS series at the Nurburgring Nordschleife this weekend.

Like Hamilton, Verstappen has shown an aptitude for nurturing young talent and already serves as the mentor for DTM race winner Thierry Vermeulen, the son of his manager, Raymond. His team Verstappen.com Racing also has a strong presence in GT3 racing, and branching into motorcycle racing would be a natural expansion.

Either way, as long as Hamilton and Verstappen take on a bigger role in managing teams while also investing additional resources into them, there is no reason why MotoGP fans should be worried about their potential entry.

Hamilton and Verstappen could face-off on the MotoGP grid if their respective interest turns into team ownership

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Likewise, Steiner’s arrival as the CEO of Tech3 must also be welcomed. The Italian has already shown eagerness to learn about MotoGP from outgoing team principal Herve Poncharal, who thanks to his experience and previous role as IRTA chief, understands every facet of the series. Poncharal will also remain a consultant at Tech3 in 2026, so Steiner will still be able to count on him for input while he learns the intricacies of MotoGP.

Then, there is the case for Steiner’s wide appeal, having become a household name thanks to his presence on Netflix’s Drive to Survive. While MotoGP isn’t as political as the championship he is coming from, he will still be able to bring his no-nonsense and straight-talking personality to the series. Steiner’s entry could also tempt Dorna to revive its documentary series after the failure of the Unlimited in 2022.

Having said that, the arrival of Steiner - and potentially Hamilton and Verstappen - could reshape the MotoGP field, potentially pushing several long-time, much-loved team bosses out of the series.

While Steiner may be more popular among F1 circles, Poncharal loves talking as much as the Italian, and has a small fan following of his own within MotoGP. While it’s unclear how frequently he will attend races after handing over the reins to Tech3, he will certainly be missed from the paddock. Likewise, teams like LCR, Pramac and Gresini are the heartbeat of MotoGP, and their team bosses have spent countless years building them to the level where they are now.

So, while the entry of F1 stars would be overwhelmingly positive, it won’t come without consequences.

With Steiner's arrival, MotoGP is set to lose Poncharal as he steps away from the series

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images