DAVIDE TARDOZZI SAYS BAGNAIA MUST NOT SETTLE FOR P7 AFTER AUSTRIA

Francesco Bagnaia’s Austrian Grand Prix bounce-back ended with a seventh-place finish, but Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi made it clear the result should not be treated as a finish line in itself. Speaking to the press after the race, Tardozzi said he was encouraged by Bagnaia’s ability to recover, while also insisting the Italian must return to the level of performance that consistently put him in podium contention.

Bagnaia took P7 at the Austrian GP, which was his best result since the German Grand Prix, where he had finished sixth. Both Bagnaia and Marc Marquez played down the idea that Ducati’s tyre wear problems were the main reason for their lack of pace, even though Ducati officials have acknowledged they “haven’t done right” by Bagnaia. Despite that context, Tardozzi described a sense of disappointment with Bagnaia’s overall performance, even if the weekend showed signs of improvement.

Tardozzi’s message to Bagnaia was direct: “A normal Pecco shouldn’t be satisfied with these results, and I’m sure he isn’t.” He added that the team’s mindset is to stay focused on progress rather than comfort, saying, “We, however, are moderately pleased because we’re taking small steps.” In his view, the Austrian GP should be another move in the right direction, but not a reason to lower expectations. “Pecco absolutely must return to being what he was and fighting for the podium in every race. He has the skills, and that’s what we expect from him.”

Bagnaia himself framed his race in terms of getting to the finish despite technical difficulties. He told GPOne: “In the end, I made it to the finish line.” He explained that he had a “small problem with the brakes,” and that he was able to manage it partly due to surgery he had undergone a month earlier. Bagnaia said he “never felt any grip” and struggled to get the bike to turn because it “wasn’t slowing down the way I wanted it to,” which affected his ability to enter corners. Still, he highlighted a positive shift: “For the first time, though, I was able to stay close to the other two Ducatis.”

With Bagnaia coming into the weekend after three consecutive DNFs, there had been concern about his mental state and his frustration with Ducati as he tried “strange solutions” to change the situation. Tardozzi’s comments suggest the team sees Austria as a potential turning point—one that could help Bagnaia close out his remaining months with Ducati in the strongest way possible.