Yamaha team manager Massimo Meregalli confessed that the team was afraid ahead of Friday's practice in Argentina. However, in the end, they were relieved after securing two spots in Q2.

Even though Yamaha showed promising winter test results with their new M1, their 2025 season opener in Thailand was completely different. The best result they could achieve was 11th place, thanks to Pramac's Jack Miller, who had to finish the race with a loose fairing.

Fabio Quartararo blamed his struggles in Thailand on the stiffer tyre construction, something that was not an issue in Argentina. But Yamaha still had concerns before the weekend.

Mostly because the Termas de Río Hondo circuit is known for its low grip, especially on Fridays, making things tricky for them. After the first practice session, only Miller managed to break into the top 10, leaving the team worried.

But things quickly turned around in the afternoon. Alex Rins got a tow from Marc Márquez, which helped him get into sixth place. Quartararo also improved, finishing eighth. And with both riders securing direct spots in Q2, the team could finally be relieved.

Meregalli, in an interview after the session, reflected on these challenges: "We already started seeing good signs during the Sepang test. Buriram didn’t go as we wanted, but here we were quite afraid. In Argentina, FP1 is usually tough because the track is very green, meaning there’s little grip. This morning was also wet, making conditions even worse. Both riders struggled with grip."

He further explained: "We made some changes and switched tyres. The track conditions also improved, and having both riders in Q2 is perfect. This was our first target—getting into Q2 without going through Q1, because otherwise, things get really difficult. So, the first goal has been achieved."

So while Yamaha had a reason to celebrate, the Pramac duo had a tougher time, as both riders missed out on the top 10.

With Yamaha making some progress, they will hope to carry this momentum into the Sprint race and, most importantly, into race day.