Petronas will score a double blow during the first Grand Prix of the season which will take place on March 10 in Qatar. On the one hand, the Malaysian oilman will appear with his new team for the first time on the elite starting grid. On the other hand, its visibility will be heightened with the presence of Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton who therefore confirms the rumor heard during this week. But the Englishman will not come just to walk around the paddock with his hands in his pockets...
The Mercedes driver will do his job in terms of communication. Its presence will thus bring aura to a Petronas brand decidedly involved with the best in motor sports. But the same Hamilton will also come on its own account. A true motorcycle enthusiast, he will closely follow the work of Morbidely and Quarterly to make his honey…
« I have always loved motorcycles » confirm the Briton on Tutomotoriweb. " I won't go see all the races, but I'm very curious to find out how the drivers work and how they manage their qualifying. It's different from us in Formula 1. I'm going to take advantage of this experience to learn a little more ».
But theory is one thing, and practice another. On this last aspect, Hamilton confirms that climbing on an M1 after having practiced on an R1 is a hot topic: “ I get to the bottom of things, including with the bike because it's my way of being. When I rode with the Yamaha Superbike, I was not able to keep up with the riders who were with me. So I still have a lot to learn. The driving style is completely different from that of a car. And it's an exciting thing to discover ».
To reassure Mercedes about this still risky approach, he ends: “ we must not take into account my age, which is too old to be in MotoGP. And I'm not bulletproof like young Márquez. But I will have fun ».
