Lando Norris offered MotoGP test by Guenther Steiner after F1 title win

Fresh off his 2025 Formula 1 World Championship victory, Lando Norris has been invited to test a MotoGP bike next year by former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner. The offer comes as Steiner prepares to take over as CEO of the Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP team in 2026, a move that bridges his F1 experience with the two-wheeled world championship.

Why it matters:

This crossover offer highlights the growing connections between F1 and MotoGP, fueled by personalities like Steiner who move between the paddocks. For Norris, it represents a potential return to his motorsport roots in motorcycle racing, offering a unique opportunity for the reigning F1 champion to experience the pinnacle of two-wheeled competition, albeit in a testing capacity.

The details:

• Guenther Steiner, who led a consortium to acquire the Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP team in September 2025, extended the invitation to Norris during an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast.
• Steiner noted the bike's orange livery is similar to the papaya color of Norris's McLaren, adding a thematic link.
• He acknowledged the potential hesitation from Norris's F1 boss, Zak Brown, about the reigning champion riding a MotoGP machine.
• Norris has publicly expressed his deep-rooted passion for motorcycle disciplines, citing motocross, quad biking, and desert racing as his initial loves in motorsport, even before he discovered Formula 1.
• The British driver has long idolized MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, further underscoring his connection to the sport.

What's next:

While the offer is on the table for 2026, its realization depends on several factors, primarily the approval from McLaren and the team's management regarding the risks involved for their star driver. If it proceeds, it would be a notable moment of cross-discipline curiosity, allowing one of F1's biggest stars to sample the machinery of its two-wheeled counterpart.