Lewis and Valentino complete historic Formula One and MotoGP machinery swap at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
Lewis Hamilton and Valentino Rossi Swap Machinery
Valencia played host to a historic motorsport moment when six-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton and nine-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi took part in a track day with a difference.
Lewis and Valentino swapped machinery for the day of track action at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Lewis rode Valentino's 2019 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YZR-M1 bike, which he had piloted at the same circuit just a few weeks earlier.
Meanwhile, Valentino was behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG F1 W08 EQ Power+, which Lewis drove to the 2017 Formula One World Drivers' Title.
The significance of the occasion wasn't lost on either Lewis or Valentino, who have made no secret of their admiration and respect for one another.
Both acted as mentors for one another, talking through how best to tackle the Valencia track and sharing tips and advice.
They were able to complete multiple runs on each other's machinery, sharing insights as they sampled each other's craft.
Lewis and Valentino also took to the track together on Yamaha MotoGP YZR-M1 bikes.
Lewis said:
"It's so awesome to see a legend like Valentino in the car. I'm excited for him, for discovering the car for the first time.
"Reminds me of my first time in a F1 car. When you see all the team around you, it's just a different animal.
"It was so cool to be out on track and see Valentino ahead of me on the same bike."
Valentino said:
"I was a big fan of Lewis' before but now I am even more. We had a fantastic day where the two top classes of motorsports not only met but worked together. I felt like a real F1 driver for a day. I didn't want the day to end.
"I also rode the YZR-M1 on track with Lewis. It was a proud moment for the team to share our passion with him.
"Technically, Valencia is a hard track and today was windy so at one point I thought it would be difficult for Lewis to continue, but he was brilliant on the bike and his position on the M1 was great. I think he had loads of fun which is the main thing."