The grip has loosened regarding the Valencia meeting between Valentino Rossi and Lewis Hamilton. The two World Champions in their respective categories exchanged their cars. The nine-time MotoGP winner moved into the Formula 1 Mercedes while the six-time single-seater crowned rider took the handlebars of the Yamaha M1. Here is part of this slice of life…
This time, the embargo is lifted, defense secrets vanished, the barriers broken. It was not a dream, Valentino Rossi et Lewis Hamilton did a lot of laps around the Valencia circuit, taking advantage of the cars and everyone's experience. The Doctor completed his laps on Monday in the Mercedes–AMG F1 W08 EQ Power +, with which Lewis Hamilton was titled in 2017 in F1. The Briton, for his part, made his debut on a MotoGP. It was even authorized on the Yamaha M1 of the season.
« It was great to see a legend like Valentino in the car », Commented the six-time F1 world champion. “ I was happy for him when he first got into the car. It reminded me of my first time in F1. If you have the whole team around you, it's just something else. »
« I was a big Lewis fan before, but much more so now. We had a fantastic day where the first two racing teams not only met but worked together ", said Red with enthusiasm. “ Test driving the Mercedes W08 was a spectacular opportunity for me. I once sat in an F1 car, but a lot has changed since then. Frankly, I was impressed by the car and its handling and by the Mercedes–AMG Petronas Motorsport team. It was great working with them. They welcomed me and made it very easy for me to get used to the car. » As a reminder, the Doctor has already tested a Ferrari twice.
« You get a great sense of speed. The G forces weren't that bad, but it takes a little getting used to “, said the nine-time motorcycle world champion. “ When I found my rhythm, I could really push. It was a great pleasure. I felt like a real F1 driver for a day. I didn't want the day to end »
« I was also on the track with Lewis on the M1. It was a proud moment for the team to share our passion with him. Technically, Valencia is a difficult track. It was windy, so I thought it might be difficult for Lewis. He was brilliant on the bike and his position on the M1 was great. I really enjoyed sharing this experience with him. I think he had a lot of fun too, you can see how reluctant he was to drive! I really hope that in the future we can have many more experiences like this “, wished the 40-year-old pilot. “ It was so cool to come out and see Valentino on the same bike », added one Hamilton radiant.
