Marco Bezzecchi
Fabio Quartararo was one of Yamaha’s biggest critics during the 2025 MotoGP season, and the former world champion has addressed whether his future at the Japanese constructor will be decided by the start of the upcoming campaign.
The Frenchman gave it his all during his seventh season in the premier class. Racing atop subpar Yamaha machinery, Quartararo claimed five pole positions in 2025, but often found himself going backwards once the lights dropped at the start of Grands Prix.
Quartararo’s future at Yamaha is uncertain at the moment, with it understood that the 26-year-old is waiting to see how competitive the new V4-powered bike is before he decides. His current deal will expire at the end of 2026, meaning he is open to exploring options for 2027.
Ducati and Honda have shown interest in Quartararo following his vocal restlessness at the Japanese constructor. The one factor that could throw a spanner in the works is MotoGP’s new era of regulations that are set to take effect in the following season.
It’s yet to be determined how it will shake up the pecking order of the grid, so any decision that is made could come back to bite a rider in the future.
Fabio Quartararo addresses whether his MotoGP future will be ‘confirmed’ before the start of 2026
In an interview with Jack Appleyard on the MotoGP world feed during the post-season test in Valencia, the Frenchman was asked about his current sentiments on his future at Yamaha.
One of the questions that he fielded referred to whether or not the decision on his future will be made off his experience on the new V4 bike in pre-season, to which he said, “The way I look at it, I don’t know if it’s gonna be ready before round one or not.
“But, especially with Tom, I talk a lot, because it’s also what I have to feel from the inside, what I really feel my decision must be.
“But like I said, my full commitment right now is to try to improve our current bike. Yamaha is a family, we are trying to do our best, but of course, I will be wondering about myself, wanting to have time to take a decision for 2027.”
Yamaha are expected to spend the first half of 2026 in development of the new M1, which doesn’t bode well for their chances of retaining the 2021 world champion in the future.
Quartararo is adamant about reemerging as a consistent candidate for race wins, with his last trip to the top step of the podium coming 1,248 days ago at the 2022 German Grand Prix. At 26 years old, he is on the cusp of entering his prime in the premier class.
READ MORE: Fabio Quartararo adamant that Marc Marquez’s injury doesn’t devalue his one and only MotoGP title
Fabio Quartararo is regarded as one of the only riders on the grid capable of challenging Marc Marquez
The 2025 MotoGP season was marked by the dominance of Marc Marquez, who secured his first world title in the premier class since 2019.
A lot happened in the years in between Marquez’s last title and now, including the significant period of time that saw the Spaniard sidelined through injury.
Four new world champions were crowned during the Spaniard’s layoff, but upon his return to full form, he showed that he is still the benchmark on the grid, and any fight for a title will need to go through him first.
However, Quartararo is widely regarded as one of the few riders who can challenge Marquez over a full season; he just needs a bike that is capable of taking the battle to him.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
