Quartararo returns directly to Q2 by four thousandths

Fabio Quartararo secured the tenth and final place granting direct entry to Q2. It is the first time since Barcelona that the Frenchman has cleared this hurdle on Friday. Luca Marini misses out just behind him, by only 0.004 seconds.

Tenth place does not yet determine his grid position. It does, however, spare him an additional Q1 session and the risk of being eliminated there. Quartararo can prepare directly for the decisive qualifying session: a tangible gain after several difficult weekends, though not enough on its own to signal a turnaround for Yamaha.