Bagnaia stormed to a dominant victory in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix by over 5 seconds, finishing his third dash/GP double of the season after additionally successful Saturday’s half-distance contest on the Pink Bull Ring.
Qualifying on pole and setting the quickest lap in each contests this weekend in addition to main each single racing lap, it was an ideal spherical for the Ducati rider.
Now strengthening his championship result in 62 factors on the midway stage of the season, Bagnaia is wanting more and more more durable to beat in his quest for a second world title.
Quartararo, who was eighth on Sunday as his Yamaha struggles in 2023 proceed, has likened Bagnaia to present F1 dominator Verstappen – who has gained all however two grands prix to this point this season, together with the final eight on the bounce.
“I believe he’s a bit of bit [like] Verstappen now as a result of I believe additionally like within the earlier years he had the perfect bike,” Quartararo mentioned when requested if anybody may beat Bagnaia now.
“However you possibly can have the perfect bike and never do the perfect outcomes. It’s a mixture and appears like proper now the mixture he has with the bike, the boldness he has with the bike, when you find yourself successful, successful, successful you are feeling you might be unstoppable.
“That is the sensation he has now, he is aware of learn how to use the bike, so proper now I don’t suppose anybody may be sooner than him.”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Crew
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Commenting on his Austrian GP, Bagnaia hailed it as “top-of-the-line wins of the season”, whereas praising the job his Ducati team did in bettering the bike’s beginning efficiency.
“I’m very blissful, actually, as a result of we did such an unimaginable job and my crew gave to me the whole lot I requested,” Bagnaia mentioned.
“We improved loads in comparison with Friday, the place I already had an excellent feeling, however I used to be lacking one thing.
“So, yesterday we improved our feeling and at present within the race, which was not straightforward for the situations as a result of it was extremely popular and I used to be already understanding that the rear tyre might be a multitude.
“However proper now we’re understanding a bit higher learn how to enhance on that. It’s top-of-the-line wins of the season by way of velocity and consistency.
“We improved a bit the primary a part of acceleration. I wish to say due to the engineers of Ducati for that as a result of I assumed our potential firstly might be larger and KTM was doing an incredible job.
“We have been nearer each time, however we have been lacking the primary a part of acceleration. However now we’ve closed this hole, so I’m very blissful.”
