A 'f**k-up' and the same weakness - Bagnaia blow explained

Saturday at the Qatar Grand Prix was a bad day for Pecco Bagnaia's title challenge in 2025, as he gave up double-digit points versus Marc Marquez - and looks set for another points hit on Sunday.

Bagnaia crashed on his second run in qualifying after a disappointing first run, ending up 11th on the grid, then struggled to make meaningful progress in the sprint, finishing as last of the six Ducatis in eighth.

It was an alarming performance given Bagnaia had started the season lacking his usual confidence with the Ducati Desmosedici - but he insisted Saturday was no indication of him taking a step back in terms of pace, but rather a badly-timed mistake and the continuance of a particular performance trend.

The 'f***-up'

Bagnaia had to approach his second run in Q2 with a lot of urgency, after being uncompetitive on his initial attempt.

He looked on course to rectify this quickly, but went down at Turn 4 after a strong opening sector - and could only watch as he was pushed further down the starting grid by rivals' improvements.

"I messed up- no, 'I ****ed up' is better - this morning in qualifying," he admitted.

"Honestly, I was super fast this morning [in pre-qualifying practice] with used tyres, the feeling was fantastic and I was able to do what I wanted. Then in qualifying unluckily in the first attempt I wasn't happy with what I was feeling - and in the second attempt everything was fine, everything was fine and I was able to push.

"In the first sector I was already down on [quicker than] my best from yesterday, so I just tried to push like I want normally, but I overpushed in Turn 4 so I arrived a bit too fast and I lost the front - after losing a bit the rear.

"So, my mistake, completely my mistake. Because in this situation where you are not able to do a good attempt already in the first attempt, you need just to be more calm, just to be more in front.

"But I was trying. And it was the moment to try - and nothing, I just crashed."