VR46 Ducati rider Franco Morbidelli has received a three-place grid penalty for MotoGP’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone this Sunday. This penalty was handed out after he impeded fellow Italian rider Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) during Friday afternoon’s practice session. Stewards observed Morbidelli riding slow on the racing line, disrupting Bezzecchi at Turns 12-13, which is a fast section of the circuit. This penalty is Morbidelli’s second offence of the season, with a previous incident occurring during the 2025 Thailand Grand Prix.
Despite showing promise with the second-fastest time in FP1, Morbidelli’s day at Silverstone was difficult as he fell during practice and missed out on direct qualification to Q2. He was the only Ducati rider not to advance automatically to Q2. Despite his recent challenges, Morbidelli remains fourth in the world championship standings, thanks to strong performances earlier in the season.
