Vinales' struggles making racing "difficult to enjoy"

Vinales started from pole at the Red Bull Ring before the race was red-flagged for the huge crash involving Johann Zarco and Franco Morbidelli, which Vinales was lucky to avoid.

Already struggling for pace in the original start in sixth, a slipping clutch in dropped him to last on the opening tour of the 20-lap restart and almost forced him out before his clutch started to bite after three laps.

With his pace recovering in the latter stages, Vinales crossed the line 15 seconds from the win in 10th and has dropped 19 points behind Fabio Quartararo in the standings.

Asked by Motorsport.com if his Austria problems were similar to the inconsistency in races he has battled in previous seasons on the Yamaha, Vinales said: "It's very difficult to explain.

"For me, for many years, I struggle with the Yamaha in the race. I don't know why I lose all grip, I lose all braking and I cannot do anything.

"The positive of this weekend is at least at the end I was in good lap times. I gave my best to even win one point, which we know for this championship is very important.

"But it seems very complicated, it's difficult to understand even for myself.

"Normally when I ride in a race, it's a very uncertain moment because I don't know how the bike will work. [It's] super difficult.

Maverick Vinales, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

"It seems that all the manufacturers are a step ahead of us - not for one lap, because for one lap we are very fast, we take full profit of the track. But when you are behind them, you cannot overtake them, you cannot jump them into the corner.

"I did the overtake on Joan [Mir] and I was very on the limit, I thought I was going to crash and crash into him. But anyway, it's not something new.

"I just want to pass the second Austria race and arrive to the tracks where we are better and we don't need so much engine and start to enjoy again, because this is difficult to enjoy."

Commenting on the terrifying Turn 3 crash in the first start, Vinales says he heard "a big explosion" when Zarco's Ducati hit the barrier and instinctively covered his head when he saw the bike flying over him.

"When the bikes crash, you listen to the scratches [on the asphalt]," he said. "So, I listened and I said, 'f***, someone's crashed'.

"But then I heard a big, big explosion. I think it was when Johann's bike hit the wall. And then I see the pieces all around. So, what I did is protected myself. I covered myself when I see the bike was flying over.

"What I did then after this is full gas, because I thought maybe they don't put out the red flag and I need to push."

Franco Morbidelli, Petronas Yamaha SRT crash

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images