Rossi, Hamilton set for F1, MotoGP seat swap?

MotoGP's Valentino Rossi has confirmed that a machine swap with F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is in the pipeline.

The plan is for the Italian to try Hamilton's Mercedes, with the Englishman taking to the same track with Rossi's Yamaha.

Rossi has made several appearances in a Ferrari grand prix car in the past, even briefly flirting with a switch to F1 in 2006.

Hamilton has taken part in two-wheel track days, including with the Yamaha WorldSBK team - saying afterwards "I’ve always loved two wheels more than four" - and attended this year's Qatar MotoGP as a guest of Petronas.

"Yes, we are trying to arrange this swap with Hamilton, it would be something fantastic," Rossi said at Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

"They are trying to organise a day when Lewis tries my M1 and I try his Mercedes. We hope to make it happen, it would be very cool. To drive an F1 car is always great."

Due to the obvious risks, the swap could only take place after the end of their racing seasons. MotoGP concludes at Valencia on November 17, with the final F1 race being held in Abu Dhabi on November 29. 

Abu Dhabi is a rumoured venue for the Rossi-Hamilton exchange since F1 teams will be staying on for a test session after the season finale, while Rossi is due to take part in a sports car race at the same circuit on December 14. It would also avoid cold or wet weather in Europe.

Hamilton and Rossi are both sponsored by Monster, while Petronas is title sponsor of the Mercedes F1 team and also the new Sepang satellite Yamaha MotoGP team.

Rossi, 40, has won seven titles in motorcycling's premier-class, the most recent in 2009. 

Hamilton, 34, is on course to win his sixth F1 title, but said as far back as 2015 that he'd "love to test a MotoGP bike."