MotoGP Qatar J2, Red alert for Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha Q16/S12): “It’s very worrying”

Fabio Quartararo is not at ease in Qatar. Already yesterday, the Frenchman suffered the blow, which seems problematic given that this is only the first Grand Prix weekend of the season. While discussions concerning its future are going well, “El Diablo” has, once again, suffered the Sprint and in particular the finish. Starting 16th, he was unable to do better than 12th after suffering a significant drop in the performance of his tires. It sounds like a bad dream, but already, the 2024 financial year seems to be off to a bad start.

Are we already in a crisis situation at Yamaha? Yesterday, Fabio Quartararo already had no more solutions and did not understand the difference in speed between the Losail tests, before the start, and this first meeting. « It was hard. As for the ranking, I didn't expect anything more. The way we finished the Sprint is really very worrying. The drop in tire performance was much greater than we expected. It was critical, at the end, I was trying more to keep my tires alive than to go fast » conceded the Frenchman at the end of the day. Terrible, but that's not the worst, because tomorrow a race twice as long awaits him.

 

 

« Sunday we will have double the number of laps so I don't know how we will do. We need to understand why the drop in tire performance is more serious than it was last year. I remember, during winter tests, our simulations over this distance were five to seven seconds faster. Okay, the track is more rubberized and therefore, more grippy during testing, but it was the racing compound and we already had big problems with it today! » he continued, disappointed. Obviously, we imagine that the prospect of starting from so far away, with, in addition, the possibility of seeing your tires destroyed mid-race is hardly very motivating, especially in comparison to the rockets ahead.

 

 

Team principal Massimo Meregalli shares his analysis with us after this disappointing day. « After a difficult Friday, we already knew that this Saturday would not be easy. We didn't get the qualifying positions we were hoping for, but Fabio and Álex still went into the Sprint feeling like they could make up ground – and that's what they did until now. cause the tires to deteriorate. Tire degradation is much greater this time around – and also during testing – as during the race on the Lusail circuit last November. It will be essential to understand the reasons before tomorrow, as the drivers will have to complete 22 laps of the race. This is what we will work on this evening, and we will test our solution during the warm-up." In any case, it seems difficult to imagine radical change in such a short time.

Do you believe it? Tell us in the comments!

Here are the MotoGP Sprint results at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport