Lewis Hamilton has held “concrete discussions” with debt-ridden Austrian manufacturer KTM.
That’s according to KTM sporting director Pit Beirer as the team battles to secure its place on the MotoGP grid for 2025.
Will Lewis Hamilton join KTM?
KTM, which has been part of the MotoGP grid since 2017, is currently experiencing severe financial problems with a reported debt of €3 billion, but could Lewis Hamilton emerge as a saviour for the Red Bull-sponsored team?
According to Beirer, while KTM is engaging with potential sponsors and investors, “concrete discussions” have been held with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, a well-known admirer of motorcycles and the racing scene.
“All I can say is that we have had very interesting discussions with their management,” Beirer confirmed to Speedweek.
“It is no secret that Lewis Hamilton is interested in MotoGP and is thinking about having his own team. There are concrete talks here as well.
“The current situation is making us creative and open to new discussions. So we are not only open to sponsors, as has been the case until now, but also to investors.”
However, if Hamilton were to become involved as an investor or sponsor for KTM then he has been warned he would have to work alongside Red Bull.
Hamilton is well accustomed to Red Bull through F1, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen stepping up to end Hamilton’s dominance of the sport in 2021, a year which saw tensions reach boiling point between Red Bull and Hamilton’s Mercedes team at the time.
“Anyone who wants to work with us knows the proximity: Red Bull and KTM are inseparable,” Beirer emphasised. “That has not been a problem in the negotiations so far.”
Relations between Formula 1 and MotoGP are set to strengthen further as F1 owners Liberty Media have agreed a €4.2 billion deal to purchase an 86 per cent stake in MotoGP from Dorna Sports.
However, the deal recently hit a major stumbling block when the European Union launched a sweeping investigation into its monopoly laws.
In response, Liberty Media issued a statement which read: “Liberty Media today received a notice from the European Commission opening a Phase II investigation into its previously announced acquisition of MotoGP.
“We are confident that this transaction will benefit the MotoGP business, fans, spectators and the motorcycle industry in general. Market participants have widely recognised the benefits of the transaction.
“There is a very large and growing market for audiovisual entertainment far beyond sports, and this transaction will enhance MotoGP’s ability to compete in this highly competitive market.
“We will continue to work with the European Commission as they progress with their review and have agreed with sellers an extension of the deadline until 30 June 2025 to accommodate further investigation.
“We believe that the European Commission will conclude that the transaction should be approved.”
