MotoGP’s Rossi, Marquez laud Hamilton’s F1 success 

Newly-crowned six-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has drawn praise from MotoGP legends Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez following his latest title triumph. 

Hamilton finished second in Sunday’s United States Grand Prix to beat Mercedes F1 teammate Valtteri Bottas to seal his sixth drivers’ world title in Austin with two races to spare.  

The Briton now sits a clear second in the record books having moved ahead of Juan Manuel Fangio as just the second driver in F1 history to claim six or more titles. As a result, Hamilton is now just one title shy of equalling Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of seven world championships. 

“Great, great congratulations for this victory,” said seven-time MotoGP champion Rossi. 

“It’s another championship. You are great, you’re driving fantastic and every year you are stronger. 

“We always follow for you and we have also a relationship so big, big congratulations. It was another fantastic season.”

Recently-crowned 2019 MotoGP champion Marquez joked the pair now have a “nice competition” with both sitting on six championships in their respective series. 

“Congrats mate, it’s amazing,” the Spaniard said. 

“I know that we have a nice competition. I mean I have six titles in MotoGP, you have six F1 titles. So we are always battling! 

“Anyway, apart from the jokes congrats. It was an amazing season and an amazing performance.” 

Both Hamilton and Marquez will have the chance to win their seventh F1 and MotoGP championship titles in 2020, having shadowed each other’s achievements for the past three years.