The F1 Drivers Who Also Ride Motorcycles

The worlds of Formula One and MotoGP are now closer than ever, with Liberty Media’s attempt to purchase MotoGP potentially, if it’s approved, putting the world’s top two and four-wheeled championships under one roof.

That probably means more for MotoGP than it does for F1, including the possibility of the two series running at the same event on the same circuit, but it has also highlighted just how many F1 drivers also follow MotoGP.

And the chances are that if you are a fan of MotoGP you’ll also be a fan of motorcycles in general. That’s why, several drivers - both past and present - have turned to two wheels to either satisfy a passion, challenge themselves or simply sate a lust for all things fast.

Here is a selection of F1 drivers - past, present and dearly departed - who are just like you and me…

Lewis Hamilton

Statistically the greatest F1 driver of all time, seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has often spoken of his passion for motorcycling, both roadgoing and racing.

Aside from helping to design his own ‘LH44’ branded bikes for MV Agusta, Hamilton also took part in a high-profile event thanks to his sponsor Monster Energy, which saw him swapping seats with none other than Valentino Rossi.

More recently Hamilton has been linked to bikes (and more specifically MotoGP) in a slightly different role, in that he’s been reported to be in talks with teams to buy part or all of them and then run them himself.

The move would, should he pull it off, mean LH44 would emulate his hero VR46, and while the rumours of him swooping in to buy Gresini Racing seem to be unfounded, the reports that Pit Beirer has been in “concrete talks” with his people seem to hold water.

Could we see F1’s GOAT going up against his Italian hero in the not-too-distant future?

Fernando Alonso

The most experienced driver on the F1 grid is also no stranger to hopping on a high-performance motorcycle. And while Fernando Alonso has been pictured aboard a number of road bikes in Monaco, in 2016 he also got the chance to test something with quite a bit more performance hidden beneath its fairings.

Taking part in Honda’s annual ‘Thanks Day’ - which brings together drivers and riders from Honda’s myriad racing series around the world for a sort of Christmas party - Alonso lapped Motegi aboard Marc Marquez’ Honda RCV213 MotoGP machine. Shadowed by the then-factory Honda rider, Alonso didn’t look totally at home on the fire-breathing Honda, although we can’t knock him for at least hopping on the thing and not launching it into the nearest gravel trap.

Sebastian Vettel

Unlike most of the other drivers on this list, four-time F1 champ Vettel likes a slightly different pace of two-wheeled life. Shunning the high-performance machines favoured by the rest of the F1 pack, the German instead gets his kicks from classic and vintage machines, from Japan, Europe and the UK.

The notoriously private driver keeps his collection away from prying eyes, although he has been spotted on a Kawasaki two-stroke triple in the past. Rumour has it he’s also a regular attendee at classic motorcycle shows when in his hometown. He’s also been pictured around Rudges (an Ulster to be precise) and was seen riding a Scott Flying Squirrel some years ago, and that bike was made in 1938.

The German says he got the motorcycling bug from his first purchase, a Cagiva Mito 125, while eagle-eyed spotters have seen him out on a variety of more modern KTM and BMW models.

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari F1 driver, and 2025 teammate of Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc is a fan of bikes with a more edgy, modern look. His machine of choice is a Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen, modified by the French firm, Bad Winners. 

The result is a bike called the ‘Apex 2.0’, which features a unique frame and bodywork, a full system exhaust and de-cat, Power Commander V, Li-Ion battery, SC-Project end can and gorgeous looking DYMAG carbon fibre wheels.

Max Verstappen

As though it is a rite of passage for any F1 World Champion, Max Verstappen can also be found on two wheels when he is getting some downtime in his native Netherlands.

Like Leclerc, the current F1 World Championship leader has commissioned his own custom, but prefers a lazier style of riding judging by his choice of a Montois-custom Harley-Davidson [it isn't clear if it's the actual bike in the image above].

A company with a history of success in custom competitions, their creations caught the eye of Red Bull Racing driver Verstappen, who got in contact to curate his motorcycle personally.

However, any hopes of seeing Verstappen on a MotoGP bike have been quashed repeatedly, first by Red Bull - who said it was too dangerous - and more recently by the man himself as he focuses on his F1 priorities.

Speaking at a recent Hanger 7 event in Austria, the four-time F1 champ said, “I would love to try [a MotoGP bike], but I think it would be more sensible to start with a Moto2 or a Moto3 bike before trying a MotoGP,” he said. “I would love to do it, but I understand the concerns of my team. For now, I will settle for enjoying it as a spectator.”

Kimi Raikkonen

It may come as little surprise that Kimi Raikkonen - who somehow managed to make ‘lacking emotion’ totally bad-ass - also loves his motorcycles.

Indeed, it is known the 2007 F1 World Champion has a sizeable collection of motorcycles in his native Finland. However, his passion is primarily for ‘Choppers’ and Harley-style cruisers and he even has a series of special customs made under his ‘Iceman’ nickname.

Having retired from F1 at the end of the 2021 season, Raikkonen spent approximately five minutes with his feet up before taking everyone by surprise by being announced as the new team manager for the factory Kawasaki team in MX1.

Mark Webber

If you’re ever likely to see an F1 driver popping up at a MotoGP event or the Isle of Man TT, it will be Mark Webber. The fan favourite Aussie has been adopted among two-wheel racing’s inner circle in the years since his retirement to live vicariously through his peers.

His passion stems from growing up with a father who owned a motorcycle dealership. But when his father refused to allow him to race on two wheels, he went and raced on four. Perhaps just as well.

Michael Schumacher

Unlike others in this list, seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher not only loved his motorcycles, but he even attempted to race them.

Having found life post-F1 to be somewhat mundane, Schumacher channelled his spare time and energies into developing his race craft on two wheels. It led to him bringing his megastar status to the comparatively modest German IDM Superbike Championship in 2008 aboard the factory Holzhauer Honda.

He wasn’t a front runner on a bike that his team-mate Martin Bauer was winning the title with, but he didn’t disgrace himself either. Alas, a heavy crash led to a shoulder injury that not only ended his motorcycling aspirations but ruled him out of a planned return to F1 with Ferrari to replace the injured Felipe Massa.

How different history could have been is he’d have been able to make a glorious return to his beloved Ferrari?

Ayrton Senna

We won’t opine on the merits of whether Ayrton Senna is THE greatest F1 driver of all time, but certainly the Brazilian won devoted fans around the world for his organic passion for anything fast, and that included motorcycles.

He particularly loved his Ducatis and - like Hamilton many years later - he would often arrive in the Monaco Grand Prix paddock riding a Ducati Monster. The Italian firm later created the Ducati 916 Senna sportsbike special edition, an example of which now is immensely valuable.

Alas, the man himself never got to experience his dedication, being launched the year following his tragic and untimely death during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

That isn't the most recent 'Senna' branded machine from Ducati, though, as earlier this year the Borgo Panigale brand released the Monster Senna, built around its current 937 platform.

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