Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Racing driver, expressed his disappointment after a mistake at the start of the Italian Grand Prix, which compromised his chances of fighting for a good result.
Fernandez arrived at the race with notable success, having won Saturday’s sprint session with his Aprilia. However, in the opening meters of the competition, he made a mistake that caused him to drop to 17th position on the first lap.
The Spanish rider admitted he had difficulties selecting the right gear when slowing down before entering the first corner, San Donato. “I braked at the same point as in the sprint, but the slipstream situation took me too far because I couldn’t get into the right gear,” he commented.
Despite the challenges, Fernandez managed to recover and crossed the finish line in eighth position, although race officials disqualified him to ninth for an incident with Honda rider Luca Marini. It was clear that the race had given him the opportunity to showcase his potential, but his initial mistake made the difference.
“I’m saddened to have missed the chance to fight for a podium,” he added. Fernandez won a Grand Prix at Phillip Island last year, but he acknowledged that at Mugello he felt he had an even greater chance of succeeding.
While his teammate, Ai Ogura, tried to secure a podium, he couldn’t get past Francesco Bagnaia at the last corner, leaving a bittersweet taste for the team.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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