Franco Morbidelli has become one of the most debated riders in MotoGP during the 2025 season, frequently called before race stewards more than any other competitor. The central question remains whether Morbidelli’s aggressive riding is a reckless gamble or a necessary strategy to overcome the challenges he faces on the track.
The VR46 team director, Pablo Nieto, openly supports Morbidelli’s approach, emphasizing that aggression often becomes unavoidable in certain race situations. He explained,
“Sometimes, I understand Franky. Because what happens if you don’t have a great qualifying and start from the back of the grid but are a bit faster? You have to take risks in those first laps,”
highlighting the pressure forcing Morbidelli to adopt this style.
A Season Marked by Incidents and Conflicts
This season has seen Morbidelli involved in multiple contentious moments, most notably a collision with Jorge Martin at the Catalonia Grand Prix, which resulted in a penalty and a final warning issued by the FIM stewards under Simon Crafar’s oversight. Morbidelli has openly accepted responsibility for his aggressive tactics, stating,
“We all know I’m a fighting rider; I attack whenever I can,”
and adding,
“I sometimes make mistakes, but I’m never malicious.”
Seeking to refine his technique, Morbidelli has held in-depth conversations with race officials. He shared,
“This year, I spent time in the office with Simon. He talked to me a lot. He helped me understand how an overtaking maneuver should be presented to another rider and how it should be done in MotoGP,”
showing his commitment to adapt and learn.
Even when an incident on the first lap at Portimão did not lead to a penalty, the VR46 team took proactive steps to engage with race officials. Nieto confirmed,
“Sometimes things happen, like in Portimão where there was no penalty, but we discussed it with the race direction,”
demonstrating the team’s active involvement in managing controversies.
Qualifying Struggles Underpin Aggressive On-Track Behavior
According to VR46, Morbidelli’s primary obstacle is his qualifying performance. Nieto pointed out the importance of starting races further up the grid, noting,
“What we need to do is work on qualifying to try to start a bit further up. That way, we can eliminate all the problems related to fighting from the back of the grid.”
Statistics underscore this issue as well—Morbidelli’s qualifying positions in 2025 have fluctuated between 3rd and 17th, averaging about 7th place, which consistently forces him into risky battles from the start. Nieto supports the existing qualifying format, saying,
“I like the qualification format as it is. It’s excellent because the qualifying starts on Friday. I’d say 50% of the weekend takes place on Friday.”
He added a warning:
“If you’re eliminated… if there’s a yellow flag or just one mistake, you’re out. If you get knocked out early in Q1 or Q2, it will be tough to have a good race.”
Morbidelli’s Season Highlights and Setbacks
Despite the ongoing controversy, Morbidelli secured two podium finishes early in the 2025 season, marking strong moments in his inaugural year with VR46. However, his progress was abruptly halted at Valencia after a crash on the grid involving Aleix Espargaró’s bike caused a hand injury. This mishap not only forced Morbidelli to miss the final race but also prevented him from participating in the end-of-season tests. Meanwhile, his teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the season sixth in the championship, finishing 31 points ahead.
Implications and Future Prospects for Morbidelli and VR46
The VR46 team maintains that Morbidelli is not an uncontrollable rider but is often forced into aggressive maneuvers by starting positions and race conditions. The team believes that improving qualifying consistency is critical to reducing on-track incidents and enabling Morbidelli to perform without excessive risks.
As VR46 prepares to reveal its 2026 bike livery, much attention will focus on whether Morbidelli can balance aggression with control to fully realize his potential. The MotoGP community awaits to see if this talented rider can maintain intense competitiveness while minimizing the controversies that have marred his season.
