In a thrilling twist for motorsport fans, Lando Norris, the newly crowned 2025 Formula 1 champion, has received an exhilarating invitation to test a MotoGP bike next year. This exciting opportunity comes courtesy of Guenther Steiner, the former chief of Haas F1, who has recently taken the reins of the Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP team following a full ownership acquisition in September 2025.
As the motorsport world eagerly anticipates the changes set to unfold in 2026, Steiner will step into the role of CEO, alongside his project partner, Richard Coleman, who will serve as team principal. This new chapter promises to bring fresh dynamics to the MotoGP scene, and Steiner’s offer to Norris adds a sensational layer to the unfolding narrative.
Norris, known for his charismatic personality and remarkable talent on the track, has often expressed his passion for motorcycle racing. In fact, he revealed that two-wheeled racing was his first love before he shifted his focus to the high-speed world of Formula 1. “You know what, I would love to do motorbike stuff. That’s actually where I started,” Norris shared during the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, back in August. His journey began with horse riding, which he quickly abandoned, followed by quad biking—an activity his father deemed too perilous. However, it was motocross that truly ignited his passion.
Norris fondly reminisced, “For me, buggies and desert stuff, I was like ‘this is the coolest stuff in the world.’ So that’s actually what I wanted to do before everything. Motorbikes was where a lot of my love started; my hero was Valentino Rossi.” This deep-rooted affection for motorcycles adds an intriguing layer to his career, making the prospect of him testing a MotoGP bike all the more enticing for fans and pundits alike.
Following his monumental victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Steiner officially extended his invitation to Norris during a guest appearance on The Red Flags Podcast. “He is welcome to ride our bike next year. It has the same colour [as the McLaren], papaya… OK, it’s orange, but they are very similar,” he remarked, highlighting the visual connection between Norris’s McLaren and the MotoGP machine. Steiner’s enthusiasm is palpable as he adds, “He can come and ride it; we will find a way to arrange it. It would be something nice for him, although I don’t know if Zak Brown would be happy to see him ride a MotoGP bike.”
The motorsport community is buzzing with anticipation as Norris considers this thrilling opportunity. Will he take the plunge into the exhilarating world of MotoGP? Fans are on the edge of their seats, eager to see if this F1 champion will embrace his roots and hit the track on two wheels. The potential for such a crossover not only underscores Norris’s versatility as a driver but also highlights the growing interplay between different motorsport disciplines.
