Red Bull deny Verstappen 'dangerous' MotoGP test

Red Bull has forbid Max Verstappen from trying out a MotoGP bike on the grounds of it being "too dangerous". The Dutchman is a keen fan of motorbikes and has previously stated his interest in MotoGP, the world's leading bike racing series.

"I'd like to try MotoGP," he said in 2017. "When I was eight years old I used to race on two wheels as well as four. I really liked it. It was a bit more dangerous, of course, but absolutely I would like to try it. MotoGP is a different world but I like the feeling of getting close to the ground with your knees in the corners."

Verstappen has now revealed that one year on, he lodged a request to Red Bull to allow him to drive a MotoGP bike. Red Bull serves as the KTM MotoGP team's title sponsor and backs a number of other teams and riders in the category.

However his request was denied: “I would love to be able to race on two wheels. I'm not allowed to. I bought myself a Harley[-Davidson bike] and I asked the team if I could try a MotoGP bike, because Red Bull are a sponsor there as well, with KTM and Honda. And we have a track, the Red Bull Ring. But they firmly said no, because it’s too dangerous.”

F1/MotGP test crossovers usually see MotoGP riders jump into the cockpit of a Formula 1 car. Earlier this year, Red Bull arranged a test for Marc Marquez to drive the championship-winning Red Bull RB8 in Austria.

 

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • xoya

    Posts: 583

    I wish Renault were so firm with their stance on Kubica racing outside F1.

    • + 0
    • Oct 12 2018 - 11:15
  • lol it cracked me up that he even asked.

    • + 0
    • Oct 12 2018 - 17:53
  • Im not much for MotoGP, but isnt Honda in there? Could kinda be a decent crossover thingy for them to have the RB drivers participate in one or two races. BTW, hope RB will sponsor one of the Hondas in S-GT for next year. Feels weird now to see a RB Lexus now that its RB-Honda in many other series... As long as they dont change the Raybrig Honda one.

    • + 0
    • Oct 12 2018 - 22:50

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia
21 - Mar 23 2025
China
4 - Apr 6 2025
Japan
11 - Apr 13 2025
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America
16 - May 18 2025
Italy
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco
30 - Jun 1 2025
Spain
13 - Jun 15 2025
Canada
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27 2025
Belgium
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5 2025
Singapore
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America
24 - Oct 26 2025
Mexico
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America
28 - Nov 30 2025
Qatar
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23 2025
4 - Apr 6 2025
11 - Apr 13 2025
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18 2025
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1 2025
13 - Jun 15 2025
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27 2025
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5 2025
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26 2025
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30 2025
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 3,445
  • Podiums 127
  • Grand Prix 233
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (28)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

  • comments 129,215 comments on Honda
  • star 9 members have this team as their favourite
  • vote Tweets about Honda
Show full profile
show sidebar