Pecco Bagnaia has hit back at DAZN after the broadcaster released footage from a conversation with Fabio Di Giannantonio. The Ducati rider said the recording did not show the exchange in full and therefore gave his words a different meaning. The issue emerged after the San Marino Grand Prix, when Bagnaia appeared to say that Ducati “won’t let me” make particular set-up changes.

Speaking on Thursday before the Austrian Grand Prix, Bagnaia described DAZN’s action as “totally disrespectful”. He said the conversation had taken place privately, although it was not completely secret, and argued that the recording had been presented without its proper context. He also accepted that his final wording was wrong and apologised for the way he had expressed himself.

Bagnaia’s explanation was that he was not questioning Ducati’s support. He said he was referring to things he had already removed many times, and which the team no longer allows him to remove for the same reason. At the same time, he stressed that Ducati has supported him extensively and that their relationship remains good. In his account, the problem was the way the conversation was released, not the state of his relationship with the team.

Pressure on track and caution with the media

The dispute arrives during a difficult stretch for the double world champion. The report says Bagnaia had crashed out of the previous three grands prix while trying to understand a puzzling rear-grip problem. That competitive background added weight to the discussion around his set-up comments and his connection with Ducati.

Bagnaia also indicated that he may offer the media less in the future. He argued that a few words can take on a positive or negative meaning when separated from the explanation around them, and said the relationship between riders and journalists requires transparency and respect. He added that he had discussed the incident with Ducati the previous day, that the team understood his position, and that nothing had changed between them.