Max Verstappen Explores Future MotoGP Team Ownership Amid Liberty Media's Influence

Max Verstappen, the reigning F1 world champion, is open to the prospect of MotoGP team ownership in the future. This interest emerges as Liberty Media's acquisition of MotoGP continues to foster collaboration between the two championships, creating new opportunities.

Why it matters:

This move could see one of F1's biggest stars expand his influence into the two-wheeled world, potentially setting up a new rivalry with Lewis Hamilton, who has also shown interest in MotoGP involvement. It also highlights the growing attractiveness of MotoGP as an investment under Liberty Media's stewardship, similar to the F1 boom.

The big picture:

Rumors of Verstappen's interest, reportedly spearheaded by his father Jos, surfaced during the Catalan Grand Prix. Sky Sports Italy suggested initial talks with teams like LCR and Trackhouse Aprilia. However, sources close to Verstappen indicate that while interest in expanding his racing ventures into MotoGP is genuine, it remains at a very provisional stage, not yet involving direct team discussions.

Verstappen already manages Verstappen.com Racing, supporting various motorsport endeavors including his father's rally efforts and GT/DTM racing for Thierry Vermaelen.

The details:

• Verstappen's Passion: Max Verstappen is a self-professed avid MotoGP fan, stating, "I am a big fan of MotoGP, and I try to watch every race. I always have the tablet with me at the track."
• Hamilton's Interest: Lewis Hamilton, another F1 rival, has also explored MotoGP team ownership, having held talks with Gresini Racing last year, though his pursuit seems to have stalled.
• Guenther Steiner's Move: Former F1 team boss Guenther Steiner has already successfully transitioned, with his takeover of the Tech3 KTM squad for 2026 formally announced this weekend.
• Investment Opportunity: Liberty Media's involvement makes MotoGP teams an attractive proposition. The current going rate for a team is around €20 million, a value expected to significantly increase as Liberty works to boost the sport's popularity, mirroring the tenfold value increase seen in some F1 teams under their management.
• Future Changes: The series is also on the cusp of significant changes with new rules and Pirelli as the new tire supplier arriving for 2027, promising to shake up the competitive order and challenge Ducati's recent dominance.

What's next:

Expect continued speculation around Verstappen's and other F1 personalities' potential investments in MotoGP as Liberty Media's strategic influence takes hold and the sport gears up for a new era of competition and commercial growth.