VR46 rider Fabio di Giannantonio will miss the final two races of the season to undergo surgery after injuring his shoulder during practice in Austria.

The Italian rider has the surgery scheduled for his left shoulder after the Thailand Grand Prix, following this weekend’s Grand Prix. If his recovery goes as planned, he should be back to compete in the two Grands Prix in Thailand next season.

“We’ll do the surgery after Thailand,” Di Giannantonio explained. “It’s the best compromise between racing as much as possible this year and starting next season in the best condition."

He added, “The goal is to be as ready as possible for the Sepang pre-season test and then be 100% by the first race. It’s not ideal, as missing races is never good, but it’s necessary to ensure I’m fully fit for next year. Ideally, I would’ve raced all season, but the doctor said Thailand would be the limit."

Di Giannantonio noted the importance of finishing the year strong: “We’ll give everything for these two races so I can end the season on a positive note.”

Despite the upcoming surgery, Di Giannantonio remains optimistic, stating that the pain has lessened, and he is looking forward to racing at a circuit where he achieved a podium finish in 2023.