Valentino Rossi tested for Ferrari’s F1 team in the early 2000s and was fast enough to be offered a role. The Italian, however, stuck to two wheels and became arguably the best driver of his era alongside Marc Marquez. Carlos Sainz has now been left without a seat for the 2025 season after Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari move, and it seems like the Mercedes seat will be taken away by Verstappen. In the meantime, as MotoGP headed to Spain, Carlos Sainz was spotted in the paddock. Is the Spaniard out looking for a 2-wheel drive?

Not really. Over the past, there have been multiple collaborations between the worlds of F1 and MotoGP. After all, they’re both the pinnacle of racing on 4 and 2 wheels, respectively. Valentino Rossi and Lewis Hamilton swapped their machinery a few years ago and made a promotional video for Monster, which sponsored the Yamaha team and Mercedes. Max Verstappen was spotted with Marc Marquez in the Honda garage last year. 

Regardless, just as Hamilton left the team he had the most success with and moved to Ferrari, Marc Marquez also moved away from Honda and joined Ducati, and now he races alongside his brother Alex Marquez. However, it was the man that Hamilton is replacing who was pictured with Marc and Alex Marquez in a surprise visit to the Circuito de Jerez paddock as MotoGP makes its way to Spain for the 4th race of the year.

Carlos Sainz Jr. and Carlos Sainz Sr. are known for being huge Real Madrid fans but are also race enthusiasts. Just look at Carlos Sainz Sr., who won the Dakar in his 60s. Carlos Sainz and his father were spotted in the garages with multiple teams, taking pictures and getting a feel for what sitting on those bikes feels like. Sainz took pictures with the Gresini Racing and Mooney VR46 racing teams. He was also spotted with Spanish Aprilia driver Maverick Vinales.

But not only Carlos Sainz, but even Valentino Rossi was also spotted in Jerez and took pictures with the Spanish father-son duo. And despite Marc Marquez, who starts the race on pole today, being the one Verstappen was spotted with, it is Valentino Rossi who inspires the Dutchman. 

Max Verstappen to follow Valentino Rossi’s career path post-F1 career

When talking about emulating Valentino Rossi’s career, Max Verstappen didn’t suggest moving to two-wheelers. However, given his pace and determination, he might as well dominate in MotoGP. When the Dutchman met Marquez last year, he expressed his desire to ride a MotoGP bike but explained how he wasn’t allowed to do the same because of Red Bull. Regardless, he plans to race in GT cars after his F1 career, just like Rossi is doing right now with BMW in the WEC. 

Max Verstappen said, “I will race longer, but not in the Grand Prix. It would be nice to do like Valentino Rossi. I like to see his races in GT, a category I have an interest in because we have our own car entered. He did everything he could in MotoGP, with a crazy career, and now he’s having fun, while still working hard and wanting to win again. I think I will look for something similar in the future.”

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What do you make of Carlos Sainz’s appearance at the MotoGP in Jerez? Who will take the win as Spanish driver Marc Marquez starts on pole?