Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia believes Marc Marquez’s data from practice at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix can now help him address his main issue after a bleak day at Balaton Park.
Ducati teammates Bagnaia and Marquez had very contrasting days this Friday, as the former struggled across both sessions, whereas the latter set the pace in FP1 and was quick again in the afternoon. VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio also proved the potential of the Ducati GP26.
While Bagnaia finished Friday at the Hungarian GP down in P14, with his fastest lap time just a 1:37.986, Di Giannantonio ended practice in P2 with a 1:37.240 and Marquez took P7 with a 1:37.560. Pedro Acosta of KTM set the pace in practice at Balaton Park with a 1:36.827 lap.
Pedro Acosta set a dominant pace in practice at the Hungarian GP 😮💨 Who will join the top 10 for Q2?
Francesco Bagnaia thinks Marc Marquez’s Hungarian GP practice ‘data’ shows the same rear grip problems
A mistake at Turn 13 on his fastest lap in practice likely cost Bagnaia an automatic Q2 place, as Pol Espargaro estimates it added three or four tenths of a second to his time. It also had a broader impact, as Espargaro feels Bagnaia “gave up” in practice at Balaton Park afterwards.
READ MORE: Pedro Acosta tops Hungarian GP practice, but Francesco Bagnaia goes to Q1
Bagnaia has pinpointed a surprising lack of rear grip as the cause of his struggles in practice at the Hungarian GP, which he says Marquez also encountered after looking at his data. The 29-year-old feels both works Ducati riders having the same problem can be an “advantage”.
VR46 racer Di Giannantonio’s data from practice did not show the same problems with rear grip that Bagnaia encountered, though. So, “if necessary”, Bagnaia will not be afraid to copy his compatriot’s set-up on Saturday, as Di Giannantonio appeared to enjoy a lot of rear grip.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t expect this situation at all,” Bagnaia said, via Motorsport.com. “It’s true that it’s a track that doesn’t suit my riding style at all, but with how I feel about the front end this year, I’m happy and I’m having more fun on this track.
“Last year was a disaster, this year at least I can enter the corners. But I’m still having a lot of problems with rear grip, which I didn’t expect here, because the grip on the track is theoretically high, so I didn’t think it would be a problem.
“But every time I try to get some speed in, when I lean into a corner and close the throttle, the rear wheel starts off on its own. I can’t do anything, because it’s one thing when you start off with the brakes or the throttle, but when it starts off on its own, it really means there’s a serious lack of grip.
“It’s also true that looking at the data from my best lap, I would have done seventh fastest and made it to Q2 if it hadn’t started off. We also looked at the data from the other Ducati riders, and it seems like Marc and I are in a pretty similar situation, and that could be an advantage because it can help us understand where to go.
“And it’s an additional advantage to have Diggia, who instead seems to have a lot of rear grip, just the opposite of us. So, we’ll try to understand and, if necessary, copy him.”
What are your thoughts on the Hungaroring hosting the Hungarian Grand Prix next year?
Francesco Bagnaia has hinted that Balaton Park will be dropped from the calendar after 2026
Without the mistake on Bagnaia’s quickest lap, the projected three-tenths it cost him would have moved the Ducati rider up to around P8 instead of P14. He still would have likely been slower than Marquez, but it would have at least placed the Turin native in the Q2 positions.
Bagnaia will now hope Ducati can use Marquez and, especially, Di Giannantonio’s data and improve his rear grip ahead of Q1 in qualifying for the Hungarian GP on Saturday. If they fail, then the Turin native is looking at a frustrating fall one week on from his podium at Mugello.
Last Sunday saw Bagnaia finish third in the Italian Grand Prix, having produced his best race of the 2026 MotoGP season so far. The Ducati star even fought Aprilia ace Marco Bezzecchi for the lead at Mugello before he succumbed to higher levels of tyre wear and slipped back.
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