Luca Marini endured a challenging Austrian Grand Prix after a piece of aerodynamic wing struck his chest during the race, adding to a difficult weekend marked by persistent rear tyre problems.
The VR46 Racing Team rider was involved in a frightening moment on Lap 21 at the Red Bull Ring when debris, believed to have come from Fabio Quartararo's Yamaha, hit him while he was braking for Turn 4.
Marini said he spotted a blue piece of debris in his path but could not avoid the impact.
"I think it was Quartararo's wing, because I saw a blue piece that hit me in the braking of Turn 4," Marini explained. "I saw the wing, I tried to avoid it, but it arrived here [in the chest]."
The impact caused considerable pain, although Marini was able to continue riding. He said the discomfort lasted for a couple of corners before he refocused on the race.
Source: Crash.net
"I had a lot of pain, a little bit for those two corners. Then, I tried to forget about this and focus again on my riding," he said.
However, the debris incident was only one of several difficulties Marini faced throughout the weekend. Starting Sunday's race from 15th on the grid, the Italian finished 14th, behind Honda riders Johann Zarco and test rider Takaaki Nakagami, who was standing in for Joan Mir.
Marini attributed much of his struggle to the stiffer rear tyre specification Michelin brought to Spielberg. He reported difficulties managing the tyre's temperature, which led to excessive wheelspin and a lack of grip.
"I struggled a lot with this rear tyre. I had a lot of problems with the temperature in the rear and I had a lot of spin," he said.
The rider was also puzzled by the difference in rear tyre temperatures between his bike and those of other Honda riders. According to Marini, his tyre temperature was around 20 degrees higher, leaving him searching for an explanation.
"I cannot manage more than this... I have 20 degrees more [tyre temperature] than the other Honda riders, so I really don't understand."
While acknowledging that his height and weight could influence tyre behaviour, Marini said the difference was still difficult to understand. His frustration reflected a weekend in which he struggled to find a solution to the bike's rear tyre performance.
With the physical impact adding to his technical difficulties, Marini left the Austrian Grand Prix facing questions about how to improve his tyre management and close the performance gap to his Honda rivals.
