Toto Wolff gave Lewis Hamilton permission to fulfill an old dream: to test the Yamaha M1 of Valentino Rossi.
One of the biggest idols of three-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is Valentino Rossi, the 37-year-old Italian driver, 9 times world champion. Together, these two drivers are those who in recent years have contributed the most to the promotion of their respective disciplines.As early as last season Lewis Hamilton – who is a regular fixture in the MotoGP paddock – has repeatedly expressed his desire to try out a MotoGP prototype: “I really have to test a MotoGP bike. Right now, for me, MotoGP is more exciting and more interesting to behold, I would say the races are tighter. Without a doubt, Valentino is my favorite driver, a reference”.
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The Brit has now been authorized by Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team boss Toto Wolff to fulfill his wish to test a MotoGP bike, writes the Italian press. The Mercedes manager even said that it seems to be a “fun” idea. For his part, Lin Jarvis, the director of Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, the team for which Valentino Rossi races, has also already shown the opening to lend the Yamaha M1 number #46 to the English rider. However, the person in charge of the team from Iwata (Yamaha's headquarters), says that for now this possibility “still was just an intention”.
We remind you that the change of modality between Formula 1 and MotoGP drivers is nothing new. Rossi was even named one of Ferrari's official drivers at the Formula 1 World Championship in 2006 – after several tests, despite his excellent performances, Rossi preferred to remain in MotoGP. Michael Schumacher has also ridden the Ducati MotoGP prototype several times and more recently Fernando Alonso swapped his single-seater for Marc Márquez and Dani Pedrosa's Honda RC213V handlebars.