World champion Pecco Bagnaia failed to secure a direct Q2 slot at the Sachsenring after reporting virtually no rear‑wheel grip during Friday practice. The Ducati Lenovo rider likened the sensation to riding a flat‑track bike on ice, a condition that hampered his pace through the middle sectors of the circuit.
Bagnaia explained that rear‑grip has been a recurring problem this season, and the Sachsenring’s sector 2 and 3 demand strong rear support. He noted that fellow Ducati rider Alex Marquez appears to enjoy far better traction, prompting Bagnaia to ask his team to investigate what the other Ducati squads are doing differently. After testing four distinct setups, he concluded the issue stems from the bike’s electronics rather than the chassis configuration.
The lack of grip left Bagnaia just outside the top ten, trailing the leader by 0.1 seconds and 0.738 seconds behind teammate Marc Marquez. He hopes the team can resolve the electronic shortfall before race day, aiming to restore the performance that carried him to victory at the 2024 German Grand Prix.
