Strong Race Pace Confidence – Maverick Viñales Reflects on Day 1 at the French GP
Despite finishing eighth on the first day of the French Grand Prix, Maverick Viñales expressed high confidence in his race rhythm and overall performance. From FP1, the bike felt strong, and although a few minor adjustments were needed for specific sections of the track, he felt capable of fighting at the front. A crash didn’t shake his belief, as he aims for the front two rows in qualifying and sees podium potential based on his current pace.
Maverick Viñales:
“It was a good Friday. From FP1 the feeling was strong, and I’m really satisfied with the rhythm. There are a few parts of the track where the bike moves around too much, so some tweaks are needed. Even though I had a crash, I’m still confident. I think I can get into the first two rows in qualifying tomorrow, and I’ve got a good feeling that we can do a strong job.”
“I still don’t fully understand the bike — the crash today came while I was exploring the limit. But I think we’re riding at a really good level. In terms of rhythm, we were very strong, and I think we can fight for the podium. We’ll keep learning, and hopefully, a chance will come somewhere down the line.”