'Hamilton and Rossi to swap machinery in 2019'

'Hamilton and Rossi to swap machinery in 2019'

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Saturday 9 March 2019 13:45

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi will sample each other's racing machinery at the end of 2019, according to GPOne. Hamilton recently tested World Superbike machinery in the off-season, before being invited to sample the other major two-wheeled option by Rossi.

Seven-time premier-class word champion Rossi is no stranger to F1, having previously tested for Ferrari – indeed he was briefly thought to be a potential replacement for Michael Schumacher when the German retired from F1 in 2006.

He's now set to get his hands on the W10, according to GPOne, with Hamilton and Rossi likely to give each other's machines a go after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Hamilton was reported to have crashed when he tested in Jerez with Yamaha's WSBK riders Michael van der Mark and Alex Lowes in December.

Van der Mark said of the F1 champion: "I was only trying to make him go a bit slower. I had to stop him, he's not afraid at all and he tried to take corners as fast as with his car."

The Silver Arrows have previous experience of having a MotoGP champion test their cars as well. Jorge Lorenzo was afforded a run in the 2014 title-winning W05 in 2016.