Francesco Bagnaia, the reigning world champion, faced a difficult day at Balaton Park as his ongoing braking issues with the Ducati GP25 emerged once again during practice sessions. The Hungarian circuit’s tight corners have intensified Bagnaia’s challenges, impacting his ability to compete at the front and forcing him to confront limitations in stopping and turning the bike effectively.
Frustration Grows Over Braking and Cornering Difficulties
Bagnaia revealed that despite feeling comfortable when testing the track with the Panigale model, he was already aware that the Ducati GP25 would present significant problems. The primary challenge lies in braking sharply and navigating short, tight corners—an area where the GP25 currently falls short.
“After I tested the track here with the Panigale, I felt comfortable,” Bagnaia said. “But I already knew that with the GP25 I could have some issues here. Every time I need to stop the bike in a short distance and let the bike turn with the brakes, that’s where I struggle the most with this bike. And all the corners here are like this.” —Francesco Bagnaia, Rider
Even though Bagnaia anticipated being outside the top 10 and out of podium contention, he noted minor progress in closing the gap to the leading group.
“We already did a step compared to the morning. We closed the gap to the front, so that’s positive. Tomorrow I have another session to try something different. FP2 will be crucial to see if I can fight to be in the top 10.” —Francesco Bagnaia, Rider
As a competitor accustomed to pushing for wins, Bagnaia’s cautious outlook underlines the severity of his struggles. Despite the setback, he remains committed to finding a better setup even when the track characteristics seem stacked against him.
Errors and On-Track Conflicts Compound Challenges
Bagnaia accepted responsibility for a key mistake during Qualifying 2, which cost him valuable tenths of a second and ultimately a better qualifying position. He expressed regret at missing an opportunity due to his own error.
“I could have had a chance. But I made a mistake in the last sector, lost two tenths, and with that I was out. My mistake.” —Francesco Bagnaia, Rider
Adding to the frustration, Bagnaia was caught up in an incident involving fellow riders Jack Miller and Alex Márquez during their qualifying runs, which disrupted his own attempt.
“I was pushing and they were arguing in the line for I don’t know what — in the middle of the track,” Bagnaia said, shaking his head. “A bit on the limit. It’s strange in a qualifying attempt to see that.” —Francesco Bagnaia, Rider
Ongoing Struggles Mark a Difficult Season for Bagnaia
Beyond isolated errors and incidents, Bagnaia admitted to a persistent and troubling issue with braking that has plagued his performance for months. This problem severely limits his competitiveness and ability to challenge for top finishing positions.
“It’s shocking for me to struggle like this in braking. But it’s been like this for the last eight months. I’m fighting in different ways to find the solution. It’s far, but I’m still trying because I don’t want to give up.” —Francesco Bagnaia, Rider
This ongoing battle has been made even more difficult by the Ducati team‘s incremental approach to bike development. Bagnaia stressed the need for a more significant upgrade rather than minor tweaks, highlighting frustration with the current pace of improvements.
“We need something bigger. Right now, we’re not finding it.” —Francesco Bagnaia, Rider
As Bagnaia continues to seek answers, his struggles underline the challenges that both rider and team face in adapting the GP25 to demanding circuits like Balaton Park. His persistence in the face of mounting difficulties may be crucial as the season unfolds and the battle for consistency intensifies.
