Francesco Bagnaia is running out of ideas to solve his problems at Ducati in 2025 as he falls further behind teammate Marc Marquez.
The two-time MotoGP champion has not finished outside the top two in the championship since joining the factory Ducati team in 2021. He won 11 out of 20 races last season on the GP24, but lost the title to Jorge Martin by 10 points.
Last year’s Desmosedici arguably remains the strongest bike on the grid, with the GP25 not being much of an improvement. But despite the other Ducati riders seeing no differences in testing, Bagnaia has struggled to adapt to the new bike.
The Italian has been complaining about a lack of feeling all season, with the Borgo Panigale outfit trying everything possible to improve his comfort level. Ducati brought heavier brake discs to the Austrian Grand Prix in a bid to help Bagnaia, but they proved unsuccessful.
Qualifying in third, the 28-year-old retired from the Sprint race after suffering wheel spin at the start, before falling back in the Grand Prix and finishing eighth. Luigi Dall’Igna felt Bagnaia was ‘below par’ in Austria as his struggles wear on in 2025.
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty ImagesFrancesco Bagnaia hints that he could finish his career at Ducati when asked about exit rumours
Bagnaia was despondent after the race as he now sits 197 points behind Marc Marquez at the top of the standings. His struggles this season prompted shock rumours earlier in the year that he could be a target for Yamaha in 2026.
Yamaha viewed Bagnaia as their ‘forbidden dream’ as they plotted a surprise move for next season. But those rumours were dispelled by the Borgo Panigale outfit and the rider, with Ducati stating they intend to keep Bagnaia.
The Italian has no intention of breaking his contract, but that has not stopped him from being asked about rumours linking him with a move away from Ducati. Journalist Neil Morrison says Bagnaia hinted that he intends to finish his career with the team.
“I think it was earlier in the year, I can’t remember when it was exactly. There were some rumours, it might have been on some sort of Facebook page or whatever,” he said via the Paddock Pass Podcast.
“Which was linking Pecco to a shock move to Yamaha next year and he was asked about it and he was like: ‘Come on!’
“I’m a Ducati rider, I might be a Ducati rider for all my career’. Just curious, this point in the season, he’s clearly still so frustrated at not finding any sort of answers to his predicament.
“I mean, if this goes on for another season, or another 12 months, I mean, you can’t see him being a career Ducati man.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty ImagesDoes Francesco Bagnaia need to leave Ducati to beat Marc Marquez?
The MotoGP rider market looks fairly settled for 2026, with not much movement expected after the reshuffle in 2024. But the end of this current contract cycle could spark huge transfers throughout the grid.
Bagnaia has a contract until 2027, and both parties will certainly look to extend that for another two years. Dall’Igna says Ducati owe Bagnaia for the success he has given the manufacturer in recent years.
However, it is clear that he will not beat Marquez on equal machinery. If his struggles continue into 2026, it may be worth seeking another project if he wants to become world champion again.
Neil Hodgson says Bagnaia leaving Ducati would be a ‘no-brainer’, as Marquez has never been beaten by a teammate in his entire MotoGP career. A fresh start on a new bike could be the answer, especially as the new regulations are set to shake up the pecking order.