Gianni Morbidelli disappointed to miss top ten in Macau

Gianni Morbidelli looked in a very good shape in Q1 as the Italian went fourth fastest at the end of the first segment of qualifying. However, two mistakes on his run on new tyres in Q2 relegated the Chevrolet RML Cruze to 12th for both races due to be held on Sunday at Macau.

“I can say I am happy with the way Q1 went,” he said. “Claiming fourth and being the fastest Chevrolet in the session was a good way to start. On the other hand I’m very upset with myself for my mistakes in Q2.”

“I pushed hard, really hard. I hit 233 km/h at Mandarin, but the result was still disappointing. I can calculate that on the lap with new tyres I lost about eight tenths due to a couple of mistakes.”

“The first mistake at the hairpin did not cost me too much, but at the last corner I got it wrong and lost about half a second or even six tenths, and I even risked ending up in the wall.”

The Italian is not only disappointed, but also admits that his starting position from the sixth row on both races increases the chances to be involved in an accident.

“It’s a shame because without those mistakes a top ten result would have been possible and it would have been a great result. Also, starting from P12 in both races will make the Macau event even more unpredictable.”

Morbidelli ran out of time to head out for a second run in Q2, leaving it to the last moment as they were unsure whether they’d have te pace to beat the Citroën of Ma Qing Hua or the Proteam Honda of Mehdi Bennani.