Fabio Quartararo took fourth place after qualifying for the French GP. The fact of not being on the front line could be a source of frustration for the Frenchman on his home ground, but he wants to be confident and ensures that he has a very good racing pace, which could well allow him to aim higher tomorrow.
The Yamaha rider answered journalists' questions at the end of qualifying (those using familiarity, that is to say in the first part of this entirety, come from French journalists), and we are transcribing the entirety here. his comments.
Fabio, are you disappointed with the qualifying result?
« No not at all. I'm even quite happy because I think I did the maximum. Even this morning during FP3 I did the best lap I could, and the same this afternoon. We are really at the limit and that is why I cannot put all the sectors together. We're good, but I have to say that I have a knife to my throat and I can't do anything else. I think it's in difficult conditions like these that we learn enormously. »
So the Ducatis are untouchable?
« On a tour they are untouchable, you have to be clear. It depends on the circuits, but when we see that on tracks like Jerez or here that they are in front, with no less than four Ducatis on the first two rows, it is because they can really make the difference on a lap , while we have more trouble. We see that the other Yamahas are not really there. All I know is that I'm giving my best, but I also think that in terms of race pace we're really good, and with 27 laps scheduled for tomorrow that should give us several opportunities to attack. »
So nothing is lost for tomorrow?
« Nothing is lost, and I think we really have the potential to fight for victory. To be clear, I have a bike that really struggles in qualifying, and even on race pace, I know that I don't keep any margin, and that's how I still manage to stay within the five first to hope to get something on Sunday.
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In Jerez you encountered difficulties following Pecco Bagnaia's Ducati during the race. Do you expect the same difficulty tomorrow?
« It will be different, because in Jerez we had the hard tire and we had problems even when we were alone. That is to say, even during FP4 I had overheating problems, and of course when you are behind someone like that it is a disaster due to the rising temperatures and tire pressure Before. Here we are with the soft tire, and we don't really have a problem in this aspect. So I'm not very worried about that. Our pace is good, but I'm still hoping for a dry race. »
The start will prove particularly important with all these Ducatis around you. Are you going to apply a particular strategy?
« I don't have a specific plan, but what will be interesting is to see who uses the holeshot device at the front, but also at the rear. We know very well that it is a special circuit and quite difficult to use this kind of devices, but I think fourth is still a good position to start. »
Marc Márquez took your wheel this morning? What was the idea?
« There was no particular idea. I had the objective of qualifying in Q2 and I knew that at that moment it was already done, so to speak. He followed me several times but it didn't really bother me. »
Do you feel all the enthusiasm from the public?
« It's especially when we go out and come back to the stand that we feel all this support, and it's really nice. Unfortunately we can't hear them with the noise of the motorbike, but we know that they are all at full speed, and on my exit laps I manage to greet everyone a little. »
You showed a good race pace, but maybe that will count for nothing since rain is forecast for tomorrow. Are you still confident, even with three very fast drivers in front of you on the grid?
« I am confident whether the race takes place in the wet or in the dry. I of course hope it will be dry, but in terms of pace I think I can fight for victory. So far we haven't made many mistakes, we have been constantly in the 1'31 window, while I saw that several drivers were having difficulty operating in this zone. Whether it's with the soft tire or the medium at the front, we're in the mix, and I'm happy with that. »
When racing in the dry, Álex Rins seems very fast. Do you think he can join the fight for victory?
« I don't know. He was very fast, but so were the guys on the front line. If you clock times in 1'30.4, 1'30.5 or 1'30.6, it means you are in the running to fight. However, I think I have something more in terms of rhythm. This gives me confidence, and therefore I am not particularly disappointed by this fourth place on the grid.
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If the race has to take place in the rain tomorrow, would you prefer the warm up to take place in the wet?
« It's the same for everyone, and I don't really know if I have a preference on this. In Mandalika we ran in the rain for example without previous reference, and yet we delivered a beautiful benefit. »
Even though you are not on the first row of the grid, you still seem much more confident than in the past. What can explain this?
« I just think my pace is a little better than in Jerez. I'm able to get my bearings a little more easily here, and we are very fast while being very consistent. This is really what makes me optimistic for tomorrow. »
