Marc Marquez reflects on the Thai MotoGP sprint, admitting he hadn't anticipated Enea Bastianini's performance. The Gresini team rider shares his thoughts after a race where he had hoped to secure a podium finish.

Marc Marquez mentioned that he "anticipated" securing a third-place finish in the MotoGP Thai Grand Prix sprint. However, he "didn't foresee" Enea Bastianini's speed that led to victory in the race.

After a fall during Q2, the Gresini racer secured the fifth position in qualifying but managed to keep pace with the frontrunners at the start, joining the fight for a podium finish.

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As the 13-lap sprint progressed, Marquez gradually fell out of the race for top positions. By the time they crossed the finish line, the eight-time world champion was trailing by three seconds behind Francesco Bagnaia, who finished in third place.

During Friday's practice, Marquez showcased impressive speed in terms of race pace, but was unexpectedly outperformed by Bastianini's commanding performance in the sprint.

During a Saturday media interaction, which included Crash.net, he expressed, "Honestly, I anticipated ending up in third place since I hadn't factored in Bastianini."

"He was the quickest during the qualifying session. However, when it came to practice with worn tires, he encountered some difficulties."

"During the race, the situation was reversed; he displayed incredible speed and maintained consistent performance throughout."

"We ended up securing the fourth spot. While it's possible that by taking more risks, we might still have ended in fourth but with a smaller gap. I felt confident in that position being mine, and tomorrow we aim to achieve it again."

Marquez states that for a chance to compete for the last spot on the podium, he must deliver an impeccable performance on Sunday. This is particularly crucial because he is falling behind the GP24s in the initial two segments of the race.

He mentioned that despite using the hard tires, their goal is to aim for fourth place and, with an impeccable race, attempt to secure third place.

"We're facing significant challenges in T1 and T2, and while I can manage for about five laps, during the sprint race it became clear that if I kept pushing this way, I would end up crashing."

"At times, it's important to grasp these concepts. Mistakes can happen, but I'll do my best to steer clear of them."

The Gresini racer nearly got into a physical altercation with Jorge Martin as they exited the first corner. This happened when the championship leader veered off the track in an attempt to seize the lead.

Martin and Marquez came close to colliding when Martin slowed his Pramac Ducati, but Marquez thinks Martin could have re-entered the track more safely.

He said he was fortunate to have anticipated that motion when he viewed the picture.

"He veered off the track, and fortunately, I avoided the curb because I anticipated he would return."

"He returned with a somewhat hopeful demeanor. Fortunately, I had anticipated that action to some extent, so no issues arose."

"He turned off the gas, but it's advisable to leave the track and return later since there's enough room at that corner."

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George Russell leads the first practice session, following a significant collision between Alex Albon and Ollie Bearman.

George Russell led the way in an abbreviated first practice session at the F1 Mexico City Grand Prix after a significant accident involving Alex Albon and Ollie Bearman.

The pivotal incident in FP1 took place as Albon experienced a sudden loss of control while entering a series of curves, resulting in his Williams spinning out. This led to a collision with Bearman's Ferrari before Albon's car forcefully crashed into the barriers at Turn 10.

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Both participants emerged from the mishap without injuries, and following an extended pause, it was Mercedes' Russell who dazzled on the timesheet with soft tyres, surpassing Ferrari's Carlos Sainz by 0.317 seconds.

Yuki Tsunoda pushed his RB to third place, trailing Russell's FP1 leading time by 0.701 seconds and surpassing Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who lagged by eight tenths of a second.

Nico Hulkenberg secured the fifth position for Haas, followed by McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Esteban Ocon of Alpine, and Valtteri Bottas from Sauber. Completing the top-10, Liam Lawson and the local favorite Sergio Perez finished for RB and Red Bull, respectively.

Positioned just after Williams' substitute Franco Colapinto in 11th place, Kimi Antonelli emerged as the quickest among the five rookies participating in the initial practice session while filling in for Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes.

During his first appearance in a Mercedes FP1 at Monza, Antonelli was involved in an incident last month where his car collided with some loose debris on the main straight, leading to an immediate red flag situation.

Pato O’Ward finished in 13th place while piloting Lando Norris’s McLaren, aiming for the driving championship. Behind him, Felipe Drugovich secured the 18th position driving for Aston Martin, followed by Robert Shwartzman in 19th with Sauber, and Bearman was the last, concluding the session with a crash in his Ferrari.

Following the session, Red Bull announced they are looking into a problem with the power unit in Verstappen's car, but it's believed to be an earlier version from his selection.

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Maverick Vinales faces a challenging Thai MotoGP: ‘I’m somewhat scared to ride the bike’

Worries over grip create a discouraging outlook for Aprilia’s performance at the Thai Grand Prix.

Maverick Vinales expressed concerns about the grip issues with his Aprilia MotoGP motorcycle during the sprint race at the Thailand Grand Prix, which have left him “a bit apprehensive about riding the bike” on Sunday.

The Spanish rider started the race in 10th position on his RS-GP motorcycle on Saturday. However, during the 13-lap sprint, he fell back significantly and finished in 20th place.

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In general, the race proved challenging for Aprilia, with Raul Fernandez from Trackhouse achieving the highest position for the team in 14th place.

Vinales expresses concerns about the bike's "very low grip" and is especially anxious about his ability to maintain control of his Aprilia during the grand prix if he is required to use the hard rear tire option.

"I'm going to be frank, we can't get a feel for the bike at all," a disheartened Vinales expressed to reporters, as reported by Crash.net, on Saturday.

The grip level is extremely low. I'm quite concerned about tomorrow because if we have to race using the hard rear tire, it will be challenging just to stay on the motorcycle.

"Alright, let's take a look. I'm worried that this weekend will be challenging, but we'll make an effort to perform our best tomorrow."

When questioned by Crash.net about where he is experiencing a lack of traction, Vinales responded: "It's happening all over. There's nothing we can do."

"We attempt to relocate the bicycle, but it seems this particular bike isn't functioning properly on this path."

"We'll get another opportunity tomorrow, but to be frank, I'm a little nervous about getting on the bike, especially with the difficult or moderate conditions."

Throughout the season, Aprilia has struggled with grip issues, and according to Vinales, the Italian manufacturer has thoroughly revamped its motorcycle in search of a fix, but without success.

"We are quite empathetic," he mentioned.

"It's quite challenging for the team as well. The situation last year was distinct since the traction was reasonably good."

"When you start this year, you lack any traction. There's not a lot that can be adjusted on the motorcycle. You're using the same model as at the start of the year, and even if we experiment with different lengths, swingarms, or try altering the wheels or adjusting the front and back, the changes are minimal."

"It seems to be the bicycle that is causing the problem. It's not functioning properly."

Heat issues arise in Buriram

In recent years, Aprilia has faced challenges in managing heat during extremely hot races. This was evident for Aleix Espargaro, who was already dealing with injuries and managed only a 15th-place finish in the Thailand sprint.

Espargaro mentioned that he was feeling somewhat stiff and experiencing neck pain as a result of the accident.

"It was a challenging race as I was extremely fatigued following the crash, and the neck pain added to the difficulty. Additionally, the bike emitted a significant amount of heat, making it even harder."

"The heat problem is quite comparable, and it has been extremely challenging. We only did 13 laps today, so facing tomorrow will be tough. However, we have to deal with it."

Vinales noted that his experience on the bike exceeded his initial expectations, attributing this improvement to the cloudy weather conditions. Additionally, he mentioned that, unlike his teammate, he wasn't engaged in the intense competition of the main group.

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Maverick Vinales faces a challenging Thai MotoGP: 'I'm somewhat worried about riding the motorcycle'

Concerns about grip cast doubt on Aprilia's expectations for the Thai Grand Prix

Maverick Vinales expressed concerns over grip issues with his Aprilia MotoGP motorcycle during the sprint race at the Thailand Grand Prix, stating that it has left him "somewhat apprehensive about riding" in Sunday's race.

On Saturday, the Spanish rider secured the 10th spot on the grid with his RS-GP, but during the 13-lap sprint, he fell significantly in the standings and finished in 20th place.

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In general, the race posed challenges for Aprilia, and their top performer, Raul Fernandez from Trackhouse, finished in 14th place.

Vinales expresses concern about the "very low grip" of the bike and is especially anxious about his ability to remain on his Aprilia during the grand prix if he is required to use the hard rear tire option.

"We really can't feel anything on the bike," a disappointed Vinales shared with reporters, including those from Crash.net, on Saturday.

"The traction is extremely poor. I'm quite concerned about tomorrow's race because if we have to use the hard rear tire, it will be challenging just to stay on the motorcycle."

"Alright, let's take a look. I'm worried that this weekend will be challenging, but we'll aim to give our best effort tomorrow."

When questioned by Crash.net about where he is experiencing a lack of traction, Vinales responded, "It's all over the place. There's nothing we can do."

"We attempt to shift the bicycle, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to function properly on this path."

"We have an opportunity again tomorrow, but I must admit, I'm somewhat apprehensive about riding, especially considering the hard or medium conditions."

Aprilia has struggled with grip problems throughout the season, and according to Vinales, the Italian manufacturer has made extensive changes to the bike in an attempt to resolve the issue, but without success.

"We’re trying to be empathetic," he mentioned.

"It's quite challenging for the team as well. The previous year was distinct since the traction was relatively good."

This year, when you start off, you find yourself with no traction at all. There's very little you can adjust on the motorcycle. You're using the exact same model as at the start of the year, and despite experimenting with modifications like shortening or lengthening parts, and tweaking the swingarm, wheels, and both the front and back, it doesn't make a significant difference.

"It seems like the bicycle is malfunctioning."

Heat issues are a major worry in Buriram. In recent years, Aprilia has faced difficulties in managing high temperatures during extremely hot races. This problem was evident for Aleix Espargaro, who, despite being physically worn out, managed to finish 15th in the Thailand sprint.

Espargaro mentioned that he feels somewhat stiff and is experiencing neck pain as a result of the accident.

"It was a challenging race since I was quite exhausted following the accident, and I was also dealing with neck pain. Additionally, the bike emitted a significant amount of heat, making the race very tough."

"The heat problem is quite comparable, and it has been extremely challenging. We only did 13 laps today, so facing tomorrow will be hard. However, we have to deal with it."

Vinales mentioned that his performance on the bike exceeded his expectations, attributing this improvement to the presence of cloud cover. He also noted that, unlike his teammate, he wasn't battling with other riders in the middle of the group.

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Robert Shwartzman Receives F1 Grid Penalty That May Go Unfulfilled

Robert Shwartzman has received a grid penalty in F1 that he may ultimately never fulfill.

Robert Shwartzman has received a five-place grid penalty, despite not being scheduled to compete in the upcoming F1 Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend.

Shwartzman took to the track for Sauber in the first practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, stepping in for Zhou Guanyu.

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According to Formula 1 rules, every racer is required to relinquish one first practice session to a newcomer driver.

Shwartzman was among five newcomers participating in the initial practice session.

The driver supported by Ferrari has received a penalty for passing Yuki Tsunoda while double yellow flags were being waved.

The event took place after a collision involving Alex Albon and Oliver Bearman.

Displaying two yellow flags, Shwartzman overtook Tsunoda during the race.

The officials observed and stated: "After the event that occurred at [turn nine], Shwartzman went past both a single and a double waved yellow flag, and then overtook Tsunoda within the yellow zone at a high rate of speed.

"The sanction is the standard one for crossing a double yellow line, and although the officials acknowledge that the driver isn't slated to begin the race, they've enforced the customary penalty."

Shwartzman's punishment is peculiar because it's probable that he will never fulfill it.

At 25 years old, the driver is actively competing in the World Endurance Championship, having not secured a chance in F1 despite several impressive seasons in FIA Formula 2.

In a similar past event, Jenson Button received a grid penalty due to an incident in Monaco, serving as a substitute for Fernando Alonso.

Button never faced the consequences of that penalty since it was his last Formula 1 race, which was a single-time participation.

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Enea Bastianini described his victory in the Thai MotoGP Sprint as exceeding his expectations. He admitted that based on his pace, he did not feel prepared to secure a win that day.

Enea Bastianini showcased a commanding performance in the Thai MotoGP Sprint, leading from start to finish. He swiftly established a lead and skillfully maintained it after the initial three laps.

Bastianini secured a victory with a 1.3-second lead, yet both his display and the outcome were unexpected for the Italian.

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"The race today exceeded what I had anticipated," Bastianini remarked.

"The qualification session was [good], but after reviewing my speed, I realized I wasn't prepared to secure a victory today."

"However, in the end, I'm not sure, I gave my all throughout the entire race, starting from the very first lap."

"Being alone on that track could actually be beneficial, as it allows you to brake more forcefully and manage the tire temperature more effectively."

Bastianini was at the front for nearly the whole race. Initially, Jorge Martin had a quicker start and overtook him, but when Martin attempted a bold move to pass Francesco Bagnaia during braking, both riders ended up going wide. This allowed Bastianini to seize the opportunity and take the lead.

"When I found myself leading after the first corner, I thought to myself, 'Alright, it's time to push hard for three or four laps to create a gap,'" he said.

"In the end, I decided to take some risks to make it happen, and ultimately, it was the right decision. I handled the situation effectively throughout the race, maintaining a consistent gap of 1.3 to 1.4 seconds from the rider behind me."

Bastianini attributed his performance to adjustments made in the setup of his Desmosedici GP24. However, he still has reservations about maintaining his speed throughout the Grand Prix.

"Currently, it appears that we've discovered something, as we tend to be competitive during the qualifying sessions," he stated.

"However, we are facing additional challenges when it comes to long-distance. We need to address this issue for the last three races."

After the race, Jorge Martin expressed his dissatisfaction, noting that riding amidst a group of bikes increased the difficulty due to the heat. Bastianini concurred with Martin's observation but pointed out that leading the pack also presents its own set of challenges.

"The Italian remarked that it might be advantageous to be at the front, allowing for greater exertion."

"It's often like this, and all the cyclists are aware of it. When you're trailing, you need to avoid the slipstream because if the pressure builds up, it could lead to serious trouble."

"It’s challenging to maintain concentration when you’re by yourself. It gets significantly hotter when you're trailing, but being alone makes it harder to keep your focus. Nevertheless, we need to remain attentive for tomorrow."

Let's turn our attention to the topic of tires. For Saturday's Sprint, the majority of riders opted for the medium-compound rear tire. However, Enea Bastianini believes that the hard-compound tire will be necessary for Sunday's longer race.

Bastianini expressed concern that using medium compound tires on the rear for the Grand Prix could be risky for him.

"Additionally, during the Sprint, the front was under some pressure, and when I began to push harder, the front started to shift slightly."

"The hard compound rear tyre is likely the most suitable option. Though it's not my ideal choice for tomorrow, it's probably what we'll go with."

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2024 F1 Mexico City Grand Prix – Practice Sessions on Friday – Event Summary

Here's a summary of the events from Friday's practice sessions at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Friday's practice sessions have concluded in Mexico. Stay tuned to Crash.net for all the post-practice reactions and additional coverage.

Here's the concluding rankings from the second training session in Mexico.

Sainz continues to lead in the second free practice session, followed by Piastri, Tsunoda, Leclerc, and Norris.

He moves into fifth position on the medium tyres (2024 models), trailing Sainz by 0.249 seconds.

The circuit might not be witnessing record-breaking speeds currently, yet the majority of teams remain active on track, experimenting with tyres for the upcoming season.

Sainz, Piastri, Tsunoda, Leclerc, Magnussen, Hamilton, Bottas, Perez, Norris, and Lawson.

The lineup remains unchanged as squads evaluate Pirelli's tires for the upcoming season. Overall, the session lacked excitement.

Verstappen is set to miss the second free practice session because of a power unit problem.

The leading ten positions are held by Sainz, Piastri, Tsunoda, Leclerc, Magnussen, Hamilton, Bottas, Perez, Norris, and Lawson.

According to Rachel Brookes from Sky, this was due to his engine problem.

Sainz leads the pack, followed by Piastri, Tsunoda, Leclerc, Magnussen, Hamilton, Bottas, Perez, Norris, and Lawson.

He's been instructed to head back to the pit lane. Certainly not the best session for the Dutch driver.

Sainz secures the lead with a time of 1 minute and 17.699 seconds, maintaining a gap of 0.178 seconds ahead of Piastri. Following closely are Tsunoda, Magnussen, and Perez, completing the top five positions.

The second free practice session in Mexico resumes with 53 minutes remaining.

The current leaders are as follows: Sainz in the lead, followed by Lawson, Piastri, Magnussen, Tsunoda, Hamilton, Colapinto, Perez, Russell, and Bottas rounding out the top ten.

There's currently no indication of the session resuming anytime soon, as they're still in the process of removing Russell's vehicle and fixing the barrier.

The lineup during the red flag situation stands as follows: Sainz leads, followed by Lawson, Piastri, Magnussen, Tsunoda, Hamilton, Colapinto, Perez, Russell, and Bottas bringing up the rear.

Russell's Mercedes has been involved in a crash, leading to a stoppage of the

Verstappen expressed to Red Bull, "This sound is quite bothersome, it surely can't be typical?"

He has entered the service lane.

"He mentions still detecting an odd sound… coming from the engine."

Then, Verstappen receives instructions from his engineer, GP, to enter the pit lane.

Sainz secures the lead with a time of 1 minute and 18.276 seconds, standing 0.7 seconds ahead of everyone else. Currently, all competitors are using Pirelli's prototype tyres intended for next year's races.

The five racers who were unable to participate in the first practice session have been granted permission to use this year's tires for a subsequent 30-minute session.

Piastri leads with a time of 1 minute and 19.030 seconds, narrowly outpacing Perez by 0.026 seconds at the head of the standings.

The local favorite clocked in at 1 minute and 19.056 seconds, edging out Bottas by just under a tenth of a second. Hamilton, Gasly, and Norris round out the top five at the beginning of the second free practice session.

Norris clocks the initial time of 1 minute and 19.895 seconds, utilizing the test tyre while Pirelli collects data on their tyres for the upcoming season.

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Is it time for Pedro Acosta to reconsider his strategy following his recent MotoGP accident? The Tech3 newcomer hasn't finished a race since the event in Indonesia.

Pedro Acosta indicated that he might need to alter his racing strategy for MotoGP events following a crash that took him out of the top five during the sprint race at the Thailand Grand Prix on Saturday.

At 20 years old, he was competing for a podium position early in the 13-lap sprint, standing out as the top contender not riding a Ducati.

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However, Acosta was in fifth place when he experienced a crash on the fourth lap at Turn 3. He managed to get back on his damaged KTM, but eventually had to head back to the pits and retire from the race.

This represents Acosta's fourth consecutive race without completing, as the newcomer hasn't crossed the finish line since the Indonesian Grand Prix weekend.

Discussing the reasons behind his crash in Buriram, Acosta stated, "It was a minor error."

"We made a minor adjustment to one aspect of the bike, and it caused me significant difficulty when trying to bring the bike to a stop."

"I was slightly off track and somewhat off balance, and when it happened, the back end pushed the front. However, we should focus on the positives and look forward to tomorrow."

In response to whether his confidence was affected by his recent series of crashes, he replied, "No, because ultimately, without confidence, you wouldn't be able to keep up with the leading riders."

"It's a fact that we must begin completing races, as I have only finished four out of the last eleven."

"We might need to take a step back, calm down, and realize that finishing in the top five isn't always a bad outcome. It's important for us to grasp this concept."

Acosta believes that trying to keep up with the top-performing Ducatis is leading to his accidents. He explains that while the Ducati riders are operating at 95% of their potential, he feels compelled to push himself to 100%.

"In the end, their margin is greater than ours," he stated.

"In order to keep up with them, we must fully commit, and while there are days when conserving energy is possible, there are also times when it's not."

"It's possible they're operating at 95% capacity, leaving a 5% safety margin."

"It's usual for such events to occur."

"Perhaps we should remain a bit more composed and recognize that finishing in the top five or six is a positive outcome, and focus on completing races."

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Christian Horner has announced that Yuki Tsunoda will be behind the wheel of Red Bull's latest Formula 1 car during the post-season testing in Abu Dhabi.

Yuki Tsunoda has been given the opportunity to pilot Red Bull's RB20 Formula 1 vehicle during the end-of-year trial in Abu Dhabi.

The 24-year-old driver from Japan, part of Red Bull's affiliated team RB, will have the opportunity to try out the latest Red Bull racing equipment during the post-season trial after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.

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Tsunoda's sole prior experience in a Red Bull vehicle occurred at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where he piloted the RB18.

Honda has been advocating for Tsunoda to have the opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities in a Red Bull, and team principal Christian Horner has officially announced that a test is scheduled to take place.

Horner mentioned in the FIA press conference on Friday at the Mexico City Grand Prix, which included discussions with media outlets like Crash.net, that Yuki is part of the junior team, a topic they have conversed about with Honda.

He is set to evaluate the vehicle during the post-season tire trial, an arrangement that has been in place for a considerable period.

"Once more, it will be beneficial to allow him to compete, providing the chance to collaborate with the engineers at Red Bull Racing and observe his performance in a Red Bull Racing vehicle."

Despite surpassing the performance of the recently dismissed Daniel Ricciardo, Tsunoda appears to have never been truly regarded as a viable option to partner with Max Verstappen.

Liam Lawson, who is stepping in for Ricciardo, is viewed as a stronger contender to fill Sergio Perez's spot should the Mexican driver's performance not improve.

Horner reiterated that Perez's contract with Red Bull remains in effect until 2025.

"He's under contract for the upcoming year, which means Checo will be our driver in 2025," he stated.

Clearly, a spot is open at VCARB, though it's occupied by drivers from Red Bull Racing who are temporarily assigned there.

"We have the advantage of having enough time to meet with Laurent [Mekies, RB team principal] and Peter [Bayer, RB CEO] to explore all possible choices."

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Marco Bezzecchi admitted to committing "two significant errors" during the "challenging" Thai MotoGP Sprint. He mentioned, "Throughout this weekend, I attempted to utilize the hard front tire, but I struggled to make it work for me."

Marco Bezzecchi managed to secure a seventh-place position in the Thai MotoGP Sprint, even though he began the race from the second row of the grid.

Bezzecchi faced a dilemma with the front tyre selection. Throughout the weekend, he had been considering his options, trying to decide between a soft-compound and a hard-compound front tyre. His choice boiled down to balancing overall confidence with how well the tyre performed when competing closely with other riders.

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Bezzecchi described the race as challenging, noting that he anticipated this difficulty. He mentioned that throughout the weekend, he attempted to work with the hard front tire but was unable to make it work effectively.

"When I use the hard front tire, my speed and confidence drop significantly."

"However, using the soft tires becomes challenging when there's hot air or other bikes ahead. Although my start was decent, it wasn't perfect, and I ended up losing a few positions early on."

"I then committed two significant errors at the third corner, veering off course twice. The second time, I went even further onto the blue paint."

"I initially fell behind, but once the pack was scattered, I managed to pass Brad Binder and Fabio Di Giannantonio again."

"After that, I started to feel slightly better."

Due to the outcomes of his Sprint, Bezzecchi intends to focus on optimizing the performance of the hard-compound front tire during the Warm Up session on Sunday morning.

Bezzecchi expressed his hope that during tomorrow morning's Warm Up, they will discover a way to utilize the hard front tire, as other riders using the hard-compound front tire seem to have an advantage in braking.

"When you're on your own, the situation is comparable, but when you're trailing and the soft tire begins to encounter warmer air, the front tends to lock up more, similar to what happens in Mandalika."

"I hope to discover a way to utilize the hard front. Additionally, since the long race requires a different strategy, we'll have to see how it goes."

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Analysis: How Jorge Martin Evaded a Track Limits Penalty in the Thai MotoGP Sprint

Pramac Rider Escapes Penalty Threat After Receiving Track Limits Warning

During the MotoGP Thai Grand Prix sprint, Jorge Martin faced the possibility of receiving a penalty after receiving a warning for exceeding track limits. However, he managed to avoid any sanctions.

Pramac's Martin increased his lead in the championship standings to 22 points, gaining two more over Francesco Bagnaia, after securing second place in the sprint ahead of the official Ducati competitor.

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Right after passing Bagnaia at the seventh turn during the sprint's seventh lap, Martin veered off the track at the corner's exit and received a warning for exceeding track limits.

During the same spot two laps later, he veered off the track. After the sprint race, Bagnaia mentioned that he observed Martin violating track boundaries on four occasions and anticipated that he would receive a penalty.

During the 13-lap sprint, Martin exceeded the track boundaries more than four times, although the timekeepers recorded only two instances.

The initial incident occurred on the seventh lap, leading to a warning, followed by another occurrence on the ninth lap.

Martin clarified afterward that he went beyond the track boundaries twice at Turn 7, stating, "To enter the turn quickly and accelerate early, I push the limits at the exit of that corner."

The Pramac team racer mentioned that he was aware of having strategic options available, which is why he refrained from forcing his GP24 to stay within the track limits.

According to the existing rules, a motorcyclist who goes beyond the track boundaries three times in a sprint race will face a long lap penalty. Initially, they receive a warning for the first violation.

During the grand prix, a racer will receive a penalty after surpassing the track boundaries five times. A caution is given after the third violation.

Why were Martin's additional track limit breaches considered insignificant?

During the first lap, Martin veered off the track at Turn 1 after misjudging his braking while attempting to move from first to third place in front of pole position holder Bagnaia.

On the sixth lap, he replicated his previous move by following Bagnaia closely before passing the current world champion.

The FIM stewards keep an eye on track limits specifically at the green-painted sections, where going beyond the kerb is considered to give a substantial advantage.

Any region that isn't colored green isn't being tracked by the timekeeping sensors that have been operational since the 2021 season.

The kerbs at Turn 1, known as 'Misano', where Martin twice went beyond track limits during the sprint, are specifically crafted to make riders lose time as they ascend them.

Although Bagnaia anticipated receiving a penalty and admitted he might have been wrong, discussions have arisen post-race regarding Martin's crossing of the track boundaries. However, the straightforward truth is that he did not violate any regulations.

Martin encountered an issue with a track limits warning during the Emilia Romagna sprint. This early alert caused him to lose focus, which eventually resulted in him losing both the lead and the victory to Bagnaia.

Although Martin did not receive an official penalty during the sprint in Thailand, the threat of a penalty for any additional error made the race's conclusion tense for him.

In the final report from the FIM stewards on Saturday in Thailand, there was no reference to Martin or the track limits, indicating it was deemed irrelevant.

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Mexico City Grand Prix 2024 – Results from Friday's Practice Sessions

Complete outcomes from the practice sessions on Friday at the Mexico City Grand Prix, which is the 20th round of the 2024 F1 world championship.

Outcomes from the practice session on Friday for the Grand Prix in Mexico City:

In the second practice session of the F1 Mexico City Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz was the fastest on the track.

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The meeting was prolonged for an additional half hour, giving each team the opportunity to evaluate Pirelli's tires for the upcoming season.

This indicated that the session's speed was not quite indicative of the usual pace.

Max Verstappen missed part of the race because of a power unit problem.

Practice 1

In the initial practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, George Russell set the pace, finishing 0.3 seconds faster than Sainz.

The initial sixty minutes of the training session were chaotic, marked by two stoppages.

The initial incident occurred due to debris on the main straight, whereas the latter incident was significantly more intense.

Alex Albon spun out of control in his Williams while attempting to overtake Oliver Bearman, resulting in an accident.

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