Marc Marquez tries out Audi F1 car but becomes victim of major gaffe

The MotoGP legend is fresh off victory in Hungary, his first in a Grand Prix this year, having missed two races with a teary injury which appeared to put his future in doubt.

However, the nine-time world champion was back to his very best in Balaton Park, and was able to enjoy a weekend off in his native Catalunya.

Marquez was spotted at an F1 race for the first time since 2024, and was allowed in the Audi garage to have a look at the German constructor’s challenger for their addition to the 2026 grid.

The 33-year-old even got to sit in Gabriel Bortoleto’s No.5 car, and the Brazilian was clearly hyped to share his cockpit, with Audi’s social channels capturing him rushing to the garage to meet the motorsport icon.

There were plenty of smiles and laughs as Marquez chatted with Nico Hulkenberg and then told Bortoleto: “I’m taking your place!” to which the Brazilian told a team member: “Then you give him my car!”

There was then even more amusement when free practice started, and Marquez was picked up by the F1 cameras, only for someone to make a blunder in identifying him.

The biggest name present on Friday, Marquez appeared on the broadcast along with the caption: ‘Former MotoGP rider’.

Far from offended, Marquez joined in with the fun, reposting the screenshot on his Instagram along with a laughing emoji.

The No.93 was making his first visit of the year to the Barcelona track, having missed MotoGP’s trip on May 17.

Marquez crashed out in Le Mans a race earlier, and there were legitimate concerns that he could well become a ‘former rider’.

Images on Ducati’s social media channels caught the Spanish icon breaking down in tears as he revealed just how bad things were:

“I hadn’t said anything. There’s a screw that’s causing problems in my shoulder. It works, it doesn’t work. It works, it doesn’t work. That’s why I already had the surgery scheduled for after Catalunya. I’m riding with one and a half arms. I have nothing to prove.”

There were serious concerns that we were watching the end of a legendary career, but now things have completely reversed with a successful double surgery.

Marquez not only had foot surgery from the Le Mans crash, but doctors also repaired a screw in his shoulder that had bent and was causing his pain.

He delighted Ducati and fans by returning for the team’s home race where he finished fifth in the sprint and seventh in the Grand Prix.

But what no one was expecting was a return to the top step of the podium last time out in Hungary, his first feature race victory since Misano in September last year.

The elder statesman was given some assistance as two of his younger rivals were taken out at turn one when Jorge Martin lost control, resulting in retirements for himself and Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi.

Yet a thrilling battle with future Ducati teammate Pedro Acosta suggested yet another remarkable comeback from injury for Marquez.

Far from retired, Marquez is now being declared a title challenger, just 72 points behind championship leader Bezzecchi, something he’s not on board with:

“I'm not ready. I would like to say to you, 'yes, we are ready to come back and we will attack, nothing to lose'. But still, I believe that I have more to lose than to win, especially because now everybody will be very excited that I won again.

“But we are going to Brno and Assen, which are two ‘right’ circuits, where it's quite demanding for the right shoulder. Then we have Sachsenring and summer break, so I will understand better in the second part of the championship.

“The championship is super long. But we are not in it at the moment. We are not in shape. I don't feel that I'm ready to fight, honestly speaking. This weekend, yes, but in Mugello, we were 10 seconds behind the leader.

“Still, I need to reach my new 100%. I will not say my 100%, but I need to reach my new 100%, and from that point, I will understand. But, you know me. If I'm here, it's to fight. Every race, every practice.”