Bagnaia Sees Prime Opportunity to Attack and Vows Aggressive Approach in Sepang

Pulse Sports Team 14:03 - 29 October 2026

Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia has announced he is ready to take significantly more risks during the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix weekend. The Italian believes the Sepang International Circuit offers his best opportunity for a strong finish and a memorable result ahead of his impending departure from the factory team.

Bagnaia boasts an impressive track record in Malaysia, having claimed victory in two of the last four editions of the race. Last season, he secured pole position aboard the GP24 and went on to win the sprint race, despite battling technical gremlins that plagued much of his campaign.

As the 2026 season draws to a close, the Italian ace is hoping the familiar circuit will help him rediscover the joy of piloting the GP26 after a grueling and frustrating year.

"I can't wait to get on the bike here. I love this track and I feel this is the best opportunity to really enjoy riding. I'm going to give it everything and take more risks to have fun out there. It's going to be an extremely tough challenge, but even last year, when my setup wasn't ideal, I still managed to take pole and win the sprint before running into trouble in the main race. Pre-season testing here went brilliantly—we had great speed and very strong pace," Bagnaia said.

Initial plans for a full resurfacing and overhaul of Sepang this year were ultimately scrapped, with only select sectors receiving fresh tarmac. Formula 1 drivers had already voiced concerns over the crumbling surface during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia earlier this month.

As a result, tyre supplier Michelin has made an additional medium rear tyre available—originally developed for the anticipated full resurfacing—alongside the standard soft and hard allocations.

"The tyres are different compared to what we used during testing because a completely new surface was expected. Due to material delivery delays, the track stayed largely the same, and the F1 cars have left noticeable marks along the straights. We'll have to see how the new medium rear performs—it will definitely be an interesting challenge," the Italian added.