The Yamaha rider explained that the drop in pace during the Sprint race was due to a combination of the bike’s limitations and the change in track conditions.
After showing strong pace on a single lap, Fabio Quartararo experienced a major drop-off in the Sprint. Asked about the contrast between qualifying and the race, he replied: ‘Both. When there’s a difference in grip from morning to afternoon, we feel it ten times more than the other bikes.’
He stressed how much the situation affected them: ‘The pace we had in the Sprint was super slow compared to what we usually do. We need to understand why, when the condition drops, we drop that much and can’t generate any grip.’
On being overtaken by Álex Márquez on the first lap, Quartararo was blunt: ‘He passed me before the finish line. I’m not stupid – I know how to ride. But being overtaken in that situation, in that place, is frustrating.’