Yamaha may have ‘shot themselves in the foot’ with their new V4 bike as Fabio Quartararo decision looms

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Yamaha are hoping that their new V4 bike is the answer to their recent woes in MotoGP, but they may have inadvertently created an even bigger problem with it.

After being the only remaining constructor on the grid to utilise an inline-four power unit within their premier class prototype, Yamaha switched their attention to a V4 after it became clear that they needed a big change for themselves to claw their way back up the pecking order.

The team’s star rider, Fabio Quartararo, has been the most vocal member of the Yamaha stable regarding the poor performance of their machinery in the current campaign.

After winning his first MotoGP title in 2021, the Frenchman is keen to add another to his tally.

Quartararo’s pressure is one of the reasons why Yamaha entered the V4 at the Malaysian Grand Prix with wildcard rider Augusto Fernandez.

The Spaniard previously entered the San Marino Grand Prix atop the new bike, where he finished over a minute off from the leaders.

READ MORE: What Fabio Quartararo was seen doing after Augusto Fernandez crashed Yamaha’s V4 bike at Sepang

Yamaha may have ‘shot themselves in the foot’ by giving Fabio Quartararo experience atop a V4-powered bike

The poor performance has led to the Frenchman’s head being turned by Yamaha’s rivals on the grid. His contract is up at the end of 2026, so there’s no guarantee at all that he will want to stay.

Yamaha have made a ‘colossal’ offer to Quartararo in hopes of convincing him to remain at the team, but it is understood that his main priority is the calibre of bike he is racing with and not the monetary value of his contract.

Speaking on an episode of The Race’s MotoGP podcast, journalist Simon Patterson noted how Yamaha’s willingness to give Quartararo exactly what he wants may actually harm their chances of retaining him in the future.

He said: “The biggest problem that Yamaha have right now is that there’s one factory that can pay as well as them, and it’s the one we’ve just been talking about having a really good bike now (Honda).

“And actually Yamaha have shot themselves in the foot to an extent because any potential transition for Fabio away from Yamaha is going to be made a lot easier by spending 2026 riding any V4, even if it’s not very good.

“So, they’ve kind of shot themselves in the foot to an extent with that, maybe. I don’t know. My gut feeling is the decision for Fabio will probably come after Jerez and the Monday test in May.

“That traditional test, that will be the date. And the thing is, everyone will wait for Fabio.”

Having spent the entirety of his premier class career with the Japanese constructor, the 26-year-old is one of the few riders to have never raced atop a V4 yet.

That was one of the main reasons why Yamaha retained Jack Miller at Pramac amid the uncertainty over his future in MotoGP earlier in the season.

As one of the only faces within the Yamaha stable to have raced on one in the past, his feedback in development has been integral to them heading in the right direction.

READ MORE: Yamaha told startling date for when Fabio Quartararo will decide MotoGP future amid Ducati interest

Fabio Quartararo has been told he would be ‘crazy’ to stay at Yamaha after his contract expires

Quartararo revealed that 2026 will be crucial for his future at Yamaha following three successive years atop sub-par machinery.

After winning his first title in 2021, the Frenchman challenged for the title again in 2022, but has been unable to follow it up in the ensuing years due to Yamaha’s rivals being able to develop their bikes even further with the V4 layout.

After reports that the Japanese constructor had tabled an offer to their star rider, former MotoGP man Michael Laverty highlighted how ‘crazy’ Quartararo would be to sign on the dotted line without being sure that they could give him a respectable bit of kit.

Following the expiry of his contract at the end of 2026, the premier class will see an overhaul of the sport’s regulations take place, meaning that a full reset of the pecking order is likely to ensue.

There’s no telling which team will end up on top, but El Diablo will be hoping to be on the more favourable side once it rolls around.