Hamilton lauds 'awesome' MotoGP move that echoes Ferrari switch

Lewis Hamilton has venerated a recently-announced historic motorsport switch, with Marc Marquez joining Ducati in MotoGP next season akin to his impending move to Ferrari.

The six-time champion of motorcycle racing's premier class will team up with the legendary constructor after just one season with Gresini - one of Ducati's satellite teams. The 31-year-old won each of his MotoGP titles with Honda, before leaving the manufacturer at the end of 2023.

In a similar fashion to Hamilton, that move has set the world of motorsport ablaze with excitement and anticipation. The seven-time F1 drivers' champion was quick to pay tribute to Marquez's move when asked about it ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.

"That was awesome," the 39-year-old replied to media including RacingNews365. "I mean, he's incredible... to see Marquez on the Ducati is going to be cool. The Ducati has always been such a cool bike. 

"I think from an athlete's perspective or a rider or driver's perspective, I think it's... maybe similar for some of you, where you've been maybe in a job for a long, long time, it's great to have something new, a new environment, new desk, new people to work with and new challenges. 

"And there's nerves, there are all these things that you are unsure of, in the sense of you don't know how you're going to blend in an environment, for example. But that's exciting. And it's great when you're welcomed into a new space. So, yeah, I think it's really cool. I can't wait to see him there on that bike."

'I really am excited for the future of the sport'

F1 and MotoGP have long been considered the pinnacle of their respective motorsport disciplines, as far as year-long championships are concerned.

Since being purchased by Liberty Media in 2017, F1 has undergone a transformation. Buoyed by the hit Netflix series Drive to Survive, the championship has boomed. It has never been more popular and, especially from a financial perspective, is going from strength to strength.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Liberty Media had also acquired MotoGP. As a fan of the series, Hamilton believes the new owners can grow the two-wheeled championship further, saying he feels it can learn from how F1 has developed in recent years.

"I love MotoGP and I really am excited for the future of the sport as well," the outgoing Mercedes driver said.

"I think that they'll probably be learning a lot from what has happened with Liberty and Formula 1 over the past years and I think there's a lot of growth that will happen. But the racing is amazing."