Lewis Hamilton buys Gresini: According to some sources, the Briton is in talks to purchase the Faenza-based team
It’s no surprise that Lewis Hamilton is not only a great driver but also a successful entrepreneur and leader off the track. But now, the news is truly startling: according to reliable sources, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, is in negotiations to buy the Ducati MotoGP satellite team, Gresini Racing.
Initial rumors, reported by Simon Patterson, about this potential deal emerged during the Dutch TT weekend at Assen and were later confirmed by several people close to the team. Hamilton has expressed interest in acquiring the Gresini team from the current head, Nadia Padovani.
It is also said that a member of Hamilton’s inner circle was present at Assen with the Gresini team last weekend, while the Mercedes driver and his representatives evaluated the commercial viability of the operation at a crucial moment for MotoGP’s history.
MotoGP is currently undergoing an acquisition process by Liberty Media, the owner of Formula 1. For Liberty, it would be ideal to have a global star like Hamilton, a known MotoGP enthusiast with a personal collection of motorcycles, significantly involved in their new two-wheel project. This could be the perfect opportunity to attract the numerous F1 fans to MotoGP, provided that the acquisition is approved by competition regulatory authorities, with a decision expected by the end of the year.
The deal would allow Hamilton to acquire a significant financial asset with minimal economic risk, as many personal sponsors and the Mercedes team sponsors are already involved in MotoGP and could easily be persuaded to support this new venture. Among them, names like Petronas and Monster Energy, who have a long history in MotoGP, are potential ideal partners.
Gresini Racing: the history of the Faenza team
Gresini is one of the most historic teams in MotoGP, with a history dating back to the mid-90s. They have managed riders like Daijiro Kato, Toni Elias, and Jorge Martin, leading them to titles in the lower classes, while stars like Sete Gibernau, Marco Melandri, and the late Marco Simoncelli have fought for titles and victories in MotoGP with Gresini.
The team became the official Aprilia squad in 2015 and was then taken over by Padovani in 2021 after the death of her husband and team founder, the late Fausto Gresini. Gresini returned to independent team status with Ducati satellite bikes in 2022 and has since achieved significant success, winning several GPs with Enea Bastianini, Fabio Di Giannantonio, and Alex Marquez, culminating their success with the signing of Marc Marquez for this season, who is already set to join the official Ducati team for 2025.
Photo: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, Gresini Racing
