Fabio Quartararo has ‘clearly’ told Yamaha where he stands on leaving at the end of 2026

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Fabio Quartararo is mounting immense pressure on Yamaha to deliver a competitive bike as he aims to return to the top of MotoGP.

Since winning the 2021 title, the Frenchman has struggled to reach the same heights. He has not won a race since the 2022 German Grand Prix.

Quartararo has continued to show his class with Yamaha in 2025, grabbing four pole positions. However, he has only converted one of them into a podium finish, with the pace deficit of the M1 bike costing him and his fellow riders.

The 26-year-old is growing more frustrated with the Iwata outfit. He is desperate to see improvements in 2026, or he could seek a new challenge.

Fabio Quartararo says 2026 is ‘clearly’ Yamaha’s last chance to impress him

The 2021 MotoGP champion has been pushing Yamaha hard on their V4 project. So much so, that Quartararo demanded Augusto Fernandez ride the V4 in Malaysia as a wildcard entry, as he calls for more mileage and testing for the bike – he hopes to win with it next season.

Quartararo had a face like thunder after testing the V4, which should worry Yamaha. He is running out of patience with the manufacturer’s lack of improvement in development.

Speaking to Motorsport Espana, the Frenchman has ‘clearly’ told Yamaha that 2026 is their last chance to impress him. Quartararo will leave at the end of the season if they fail to deliver on his demands.

“It’s] more than a matter of feeling in debt, it was about weighing the pros and cons. The opportunity I’ve given Yamaha for these two years is clearly the last one,” he said.

“I must also admit there was some ego involved. I wanted to be back at the top with this bike.”

READ MORE: Everything to know about Fabio Quartararo from net worth to career stats

Fabio Quartararo ‘trusted’ Yamaha to sign a new contract, but they have not improved

Quartararo added that he signed his current contract with Yamaha because he ‘trusted’ what he was hearing about the bike. However, the team have not improved

He said: “The renewal for this 2025/26 season has been because I trusted what I saw in terms of the bike’s evolution, what I thought was going to happen.

“But things have not gone as I expected this year because we haven’t improved, but hopefully the 2026 bike will be better.”

Yamaha have made a ‘colossal’ offer to Quartararo to try and convince him to stay beyond 2026. But unless the V4 bike is competitive, he has made his intentions clear that he will leave.