The Honda HRC Castrol team had a promising opening day at the Lusail International Circuit, with both Luca Marini and Joan Mir posting competitive times in the first two practice sessions. Marini was consistent throughout the day, finishing in 12th place twice with a best time of 1’51.775, just a tenth of a second away from a spot in the top ten. He remains confident that with better track placement, he can transfer to Q2 on Saturday. Mir was also a front-runner, finishing with a time of 1’51.784, just 0.009s behind Marini’s best. The #36 rider aims to continue his perfect run of Q2 appearances in 2025 and improve his performance in fast corners.
Both riders will face a crucial Saturday, with Free Practice 2 giving way to Q1 at 15:40 Local Time. If they can navigate the grid position and make it to Q2, they have the ability to fight for a top ten spot. In his post-practice comments, Marini highlighted the importance of track position and aero effect on the Lusail circuit, stating that paying attention to these factors will be crucial in Q1. Mir, on the other hand, acknowledged that there is still room for improvement in the fast corners, but believes the team can put together a better lap in Q1.
Overall, it was a positive day for the Honda HRC Castrol team, with both riders showing competitive pace. Marini’s consistency and Mir’s improvement throughout the day bode well for Saturday’s Q1 and Q2 sessions. With a strong grid position, both riders have the potential to fight for a top ten spot in the Sprint race on Saturday at 20:00 Local Time.