Pierre Gasly becomes first active F1 driver to invest in MotoGP with Guenther Steiner's Tech3

Pierre Gasly has become the first active Formula 1 driver to invest in a MotoGP team, joining an investor group led by former Haas F1 boss Guenther Steiner that has taken over the Red Bull KTM Tech3 squad. The Alpine driver's move into motorcycle grand prix racing marks a significant crossover between the two premier motorsport categories.

Why it matters:

This investment represents a rare crossover of capital and influence from F1 to MotoGP, signaling growing commercial interest in the two-wheeled championship. For Gasly, it diversifies his portfolio beyond the cockpit, while for Steiner, it marks his official return to motorsport leadership after his departure from Haas, now on the two-wheeled side of the industry.

The details:

• Guenther Steiner, appointed CEO of Tech3 earlier this year, partnered with IKON Capital and touring car veteran Richard Coleman to acquire the team.
• The ownership group has now been bolstered by additional investors, including Bolt Ventures and Main Street Advisors, with Pierre Gasly among the named individuals.
• Gasly stated his investment was driven by conviction in "the strength of the Tech3 brand and the long-term growth of the MotoGP sport," seeing "significant untapped potential" in the team.
• This is not Gasly's first sports investment; he became a joint shareholder in French third-tier football club FC Versailles two years ago.
• The investor group includes significant sports business figures: David Blitzer of Bolt Ventures is a managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, while Main Street Advisors' founder Paul Wachter is a partner at Fenway Sports Group, which owns Liverpool FC and the Boston Red Sox.

What's next:

Steiner emphasized a "measured, strategic approach to growth," aiming to preserve Tech3's heritage while elevating its profile. The influx of F1-connected investment and expertise could reshape the competitive and commercial landscape of the Tech3 team. Gasly's pioneering move may also pave the way for other F1 drivers to explore ownership opportunities in MotoGP, following past rumors linking stars like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to similar ventures.