F1 owners declare majority MotoGP Takeover
Liberty Media, the commercial rights holders of Formula One, disclosed on Monday an 86% majority takeover of motorcycle racing’s Grand Prix class, MotoGP, for a sum worth €4.2 billion (£3.6 billion).
Liberty Media hopes to have the transaction to take over Dorna Sports completed by the end of the year, “subject to the receipt of clearances and approvals by competition and foreign investment law authorities in various jurisdictions.”
If the transaction goes through as anticipated, it will be a one-of-a-kind moment in motorsport history when both top classes are under the same commercial rights holders.
Read more: F1 owners confirm massive €4.2 billion deal to take over MotoGP series.
Was Lewis Hamilton’s ‘departure’ from Mercedes a saving grace after a difficult start?
Former McLaren technician Marc Priestley claimed that Lewis Hamilton’s “objective” stance following his retirement from the Australian Grand Prix could indicate that he is already preparing for his move to Ferrari next season, regardless of how well he does this year.
“Of course, if you’re Lewis Hamilton, you’ve got an exit strategy; you know you’ll be moving to Ferrari at the end of the year,” Priestley remarked on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast.
“So maybe that explains why he’s a little more objective about everything, and why he’s not as depressed.
“This is not the future or his career on the line with this Mercedes, as it was for George Russell two years ago.
“This is a Lewis Hamilton that might be starting to resign himself to the fact that he’s got to write this year off, and he cannot wait to get those red overalls on, they can’t come quickly enough.”
