Breaking news
Formula 1
MotoGP champion Marquez makes Formula 1 debut
Four-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez drove a Formula 1 car for the first time at the Red Bull Ring on Tuesday.
Ben Anderson
Edited: Aug 5, 2022, 7:07 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Honda factory rider completed 43 laps behind the wheel of a Toro Rosso-livered Red Bull RB8 at a special test convened to promote the forthcoming F1 and MotoGP races at the Austrian circuit, before handing over to current Honda MotoGP teammate Dani Pedrosa in the afternoon.
Marquez was watched by Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz, Honda motorsport boss Masashi Yamamoto and Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, and coached by nine-time grand prix winner and former Red Bull F1 driver Mark Webber.
Laptimes were not released officially, but Motorsport.com understands Marquez gradually worked his way down to 1m14.9s best, and was earlier on for a lap six tenths quicker before spinning at the final corner.
Marquez's best lap was more than 10s slower than Valtteri Bottas's pole time for last year's Austrian GP, but Marquez drove a 2012 'show' car on hard Pirelli demonstration tyres with no DRS, using a V8 engine with no KERS.
He lapped just over six seconds slower than Felipe Massa's pole time for the 2014 grand prix at this circuit.
"Today, a full smile, all day! It was a great experience," Marquez said.
"It was incredible to drive a Formula 1 car, because it's my first experience with a car at a track – I never drove before. I drove a Formula 3 car, but only two laps in Motegi.
"Yesterday I was very, very nervous, this morning too – difficult to sleep, even more than in a race weekend! But step by step we just tried to find a way, to enjoy, and it was really good.
"They tell me [I was] not bad [to begin with], but I was so far [away from the pace], but then step by step I understand the things, and around these legends everything is easier.
"It is a day that will be always in my mind."
Webber said it was an "honour" to coach Marquez, who was "super-impressive" in rapidly learning the techniques needed to drive a Formula 1 car properly.
"It's impressive, because obviously Marc is at the top of his game on two wheels and to come to drive a Formula 1 car, the way we generate the lap time is just so different," Webber said.
"We have so much downforce, so much cornering grip, the lateral component, the seating position is unique because the eyeline is different.
"A super-impressive morning. He chipped away, we got into the breaking areas, we got into the high-speed corners, and now we're into this last part which takes a bit longer to get the last bit of lap time out.
"In general it's been a real honour to be here. He's driven awesome."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1's street race push allows more exciting tracks, says Tilke
Next article Kubica, Rowland to drive in post-Hungarian GP test
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Ben Anderson
How Lauda won F1's closest ever title battle
Formula 1
Formula 1
How Lauda won F1's closest ever title battle
Testing the tiers of Porsche's motorsport ladder
Porsche
Porsche
Testing the tiers of Porsche's motorsport ladder
Track Test: Lamborghini Super Trofeo
General
General
Track Test: Lamborghini Super Trofeo
More from
Marc Marquez
Marc Marquez will have to perform his "juggling act" in coming MotoGP races, says Alex
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
Marc Marquez will have to perform his "juggling act" in coming MotoGP races, says Alex
Pedro Acosta: "I'm going to Ducati to learn from Marc Marquez, not to beat him on same bike"
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
Pedro Acosta: "I'm going to Ducati to learn from Marc Marquez, not to beat him on same bike"
More from
Racing Bulls
Who slept worst last night: Nikola Tsolov
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Who slept worst last night: Nikola Tsolov
Racing Bulls "not in a rush" to decide between three "fantastic" drivers for F1 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Racing Bulls "not in a rush" to decide between three "fantastic" drivers for F1 2027
Latest news
Toyota clinches 2026 NASCAR Cup manufacturer championship early after dominant season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
6 h
Toyota clinches 2026 NASCAR Cup manufacturer championship early after dominant season
Tyler Reddick really needed NASCAR Phoenix win for several reasons
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
6 h
Tyler Reddick really needed NASCAR Phoenix win for several reasons
Bubba Wallace laments mistake after heartbreaking Phoenix loss
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
7 h
Bubba Wallace laments mistake after heartbreaking Phoenix loss
NASCAR is getting the championship finish it has pursued since 1992
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
7 h
NASCAR is getting the championship finish it has pursued since 1992
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe