Hybrid war is unfortunately an expression currently particularly used to describe the dramatic global context, but which could also be used to describe the maneuver of Luca marini against fabio quartararo during FP1 and FP2 of the Thai Grand Prix in Buriram.
Usually, the Yamaha rider always starts last in order to benefit from a free track, which suits his Yamaha best. Lately, Franco Morbidelli who used the opposite strategy, namely leaving first, waits wisely with his teammate in order to benefit from the latter's speed.
But today, Luca marini deliberately waited for the French driver to set off to take his wheel, then clearly refused to pass in front, despite the gesticulations of the Niçois.
Early FP2 frustrations! 👀@FabioQ20 wasn't a fan of @ Luca_Marini_97 following him 😅#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/7zmzbCh0Jn
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) September 30, 2022
There are officially no team instructions to promote Francis Bagnaia at Ducati, but we gradually learn that there is still a distribution of work during the sessions, a self-ban for some to try to overtake the spearhead of Borgo Panigale, and now an obvious attempt to destabilize the Frenchman.
Faced with this last maneuver which doesn't really have to be when Ducati has eight competitive machines, El Diablo puts things into perspective and concentrates on his work.
Today, fabio quartararo finished at 32/1000 Marc Márquez in FP1 before setting the eighth fastest time in FP2, without having improved his best time because of the yellow flags. It is therefore his morning reference which is taken into account and places him in fifth position, 0,274 seconds behind his compatriot Johann zarco.
fabio quartararo : " It was a good day. In the morning I was strong, I was also fast in FP2, but unfortunately I found myself with two yellow flags in the time attack. I then made a mistake on my last lap. Other than that, our pace was okay. When I put the medium rear tire on, we left a worn front tire on the bike, which was really nice. But I didn't feel perfectly good on the bike. I was a little on the limit. Conditions are likely to change relatively sharply. Somehow the same bikes were in the top 5, but without the yellow flags and mistakes we would also be in front. I also think they didn't make any mistakes and didn't get the yellow flag. »
About the strategy of Luca marini, the Frenchman puts things into perspective.
“He waited for me in the garage for a minute. I understand in qualifying but that’s not done in free practice. These are psychological games that don't matter to me. I mean he's not fighting for the championship. If it had been Pecco or Aleix, and maybe Enea, but with Lucas... It's a bit strange. But you know, I do my job and I hit the track. He followed me but that doesn't matter to me. I was a little angry during the first lap, but after that it wasn't a problem. There are eight of them, so they can play! »
As for the calendar planned for 2023, it especially notes the disappearance of Aragón, its pet peeve...
« It's good ! I am happy ! I hope we never come back to that (laughs)! But now that we will have a little more engine next year, it will be fine. But it sure is good. I think it will be pretty good: New countries, new circuits. I'm really looking forward to going to India because it's a track I've seen before in a Formula 1 onboard, and it looks very fast and fun. Hopefully we can have fun on this beautiful circuit. »
FP1-FP2 results of the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix in Buriram:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
