Francesco Bagnaia, rider of the Ducati Team, acknowledges that the last races of the 2026 season will be more of a survival experience than a competition, as his problems with the GP26 bike persist and there are no solutions in sight. The three-time world champion had pinned hopes on the Malaysian Grand Prix, considering the Sepang circuit as one of the last opportunities to achieve a good result before leaving the team at the end of the year.
Despite achieving a remarkable result in the previous edition of the Malaysian Grand Prix, where he secured pole position and a victory in the sprint, Bagnaia could only qualify in 10th position this time. His race ended with a disappointing 13th place, and he showed his frustration with the machine’s performance, to the point of breaking the windshield in a moment of desperation.
When asked if he was counting down the days to the end of the year, Bagnaia acknowledged: ‘Yes, but not just from this moment.’ When asked about expectations for the last races, he responded that the goal was ‘to survive.’ Additionally, he expressed that the conditions of his bike did not allow him to perform effectively on one of his favorite circuits.
The rider has been struggling with grip issues since the start of the season, although he achieved some significant results in the first half, with four consecutive podium finishes. However, his form has drastically declined after the summer break, with the last eight Grands Prix resulting in only two races in sixth place as the best results.
Bagnaia commented that in Malaysia he was unable to maintain competitive performance during the race, with performance deteriorating considerably in the final minutes. ‘My last lap was unacceptable, considering what I know I can do here,’ he admitted, asserting that the situation is as expected. Now, with three races ahead, the only alternative is to try to do the best possible with what is left of the championship.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
