Davide Tardozzi shares the only ‘problem’ Ducati see after Francesco Bagnaia’s ‘outburst’ 😡

Ducati’s factory team manager Davide Tardozzi has offered a calm and constructive perspective following Francesco Bagnaia’s public expression of frustration after his disappointing performance at the Austrian Grand Prix. Rather than interpreting Bagnaia’s outburst as a sign of discord within the team, Tardozzi sees it as a symptom of deeper issues—and one that Ducati is fully committed to addressing.

Bagnaia, trailing his teammate Marc Márquez by a staggering 197 points after thirteen rounds, unleashed his displeasure after finishing eighth in Austria. He exasperatedly told the media, “I hope Ducati can explain this to me,” stating that his patience was wearing thin. In contrast to speculation of internal fracture, Tardozzi responded with reassurance. Speaking to Sky Italia at the Hungarian Grand Prix, he emphasized that the only challenge Ducati perceives is how to support Bagnaia in recapturing his lost form.

Tardozzi framed Bagnaia’s emotional reaction as perfectly understandable. “We understood the outburst of the rider, of the boy who sees his dream slipping away,” he remarked. He stressed the strength of the relationship between the rider and the team: “For us, it was absolutely not a problem … The unity between Pecco and the team is very solid. … I don’t see any problem, other than trying to find that feeling that was missing in the first part of the season and didn’t allow him to perform”.

This sentiment reflects Ducati’s broader strategy amid a difficult season. While Márquez has made the Desmosedici GP25 look undeniably competitive—claiming multiple victories—Bagnaia has struggled to rediscover his rhythm. Tardozzi and the Ducati engineering team have been fully focused on aligning technical solutions with mental resilience to reignite Bagnaia’s performance.

Throughout the season, Tardozzi has been vocal about the multi-faceted nature of Bagnaia’s struggles—pointing to both technical and psychological elements. He emphasized that Ducati must help their three-time world champion rediscover his confidence, especially on braking and corner entry, where he historically excelled. In the aftermath of the German Grand Prix, Tardozzi candidly admitted that the team lacks a full understanding of certain issues, like Bagnaia’s mysterious lack of rear grip, underscoring the complexity of the challenge.

Earlier in the season, after Bagnaia expressed doubts about the GP25’s evolution, Tardozzi defended the bike’s improvements and argued that Bagnaia’s main obstacle was mental: “He needs to improve more, and I believe he has that potential. … He misses that ability, and we’re working to bring it back. If we succeed, he’ll fight with Marc—we’re absolutely convinced of that.”.

Tardozzi’s approach combines empathy and engineering. After Bagnaia’s outburst, which was fueled by high expectations and mounting frustration, Ducati did not issue a reprimand. Instead, they reaffirmed their trust. “There is mutual trust,” Tardozzi said. “We will make sure to put him in a position to be competitive again”. This philosophy contrasts with a culture of blame and instead reinforces that Ducati sees their role as supporting a rider through a slump—not punishing him for the pressure he feels.

The backdrop to all of this remains stark: Márquez has captured the majority of victories in 2025, while Bagnaia’s campaign has faltered. These diverging trajectories amplify the stakes. Yet rather than framing it as a rivalry or internal breakdown, Ducati treats Bagnaia’s downturn as a problem for both rider and team to solve together.

This collaborative ethos is crucial. In pro motorsport, individual talent is only part of the equation. Tardozzi’s words underscore that psychological factors—determination, belief, clarity—can be just as decisive as mechanical performance. Bagnaia’s outburst, then, is not just a display of frustration, but a plea for help—and Ducati has clearly listened.

Looking forward, the only recognized problem is helping Bagnaia rediscover his form. That is Tardozzi’s rallying cry—not from a position of blame, but of belief. In a season overshadowed by teammate dominance and internal struggles, Ducati has chosen unity, understanding, and a firm resolve to bring their champion back to the front.