The Italian Grand Prix once again saw a clash between Maverick Viñales and Franco Morbidelli, two drivers who have had previous on-track encounters. This time, it was Morbidelli who caused contact in the opening laps, sending Viñales into the gravel and forcing him to retire.
Casa Particular in Viñales, pilot Tech3 KTM, did not hide his discontent: captured by the cameras, he immediately reacted with an explicit gesture, denouncing an overtaking deemed too aggressive on the part of the driver VR46.
Morbidely, penalized with a long lap for his involvement in the incident, did not correctly carry out this penalty the first time and had to retake it. He still finished the race in sixth position, a frustrating result for Casa Particular in Viñales and criticized by many observers.
This new episode adds to a series of contacts between the two men, some of which date back to Silverstone, where they had already clashed before a red flag restarted the race. They also had incidents in 2019, 2020 and 2022, which makes this clash all the more symbolic.
On social media, many fans expressed their anger. Some called for the Italian driver's immediate suspension. It's time to retire grandfather ", said one internet user, while another joked about the maneuver: " he doesn't even try to overtake it, he just goes through it. » Others questioned the leniency of the punishment, saying a long lag is not enough in such cases.
Take a look at the incident as there's confirmation that Morbidelli will need to serve another LLP 👀#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/EPFrhGgohr
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) June 22, 2025
« Franco Morbidelli should miss a race. He must understand that he cannot continue like this. »
One supporter even suggested an exclusion: “ He should miss a race. He must understand that he cannot continue like this.. » Another chimed in, calling for a heavier penalty: " suspension and fine. »
A possible suspension would have an immediate impact: Morbidely would miss the next round Assen, and the team VR46 should find a replacement urgently. The name of Michele Pirro, test pilot Ducati, is mentioned to take over.
While the contract of Morbidely expires at the end of the 2025 season, this new incident does not help his situation. Not only does it cost his team valuable points, but it also tarnishes his image, especially since it happened in front of his boss Valentino Rossi, on the Italian circuit of Mugello. The pressure is mounting on Franco Morbidelli, whose driving style is increasingly criticized.
Race classification MotoGP Mugello
