Marco Bezzecchi
Yamaha have rushed the introduction of the V4 engine through in a partial bid to keep Fabio Quartararo happy.
But it might not be the right move. This season, they were rooted to the bottom of MotoGP’s manufacturers’ standings, and the new engine doesn’t look like much of an improvement.
By the time 2026 rolls around, it will have been four years since Yamaha’s last premier class victory, which shows just how much they have struggled.
Quartararo is in the prime of his career, and can’t really afford to be wasting them in the midfield. It’s something he will come to regret. Instead, a lower pay day and a faster bike may be the right choice.
Quartararo has been told he’s complaining too much and has put plenty of pressure on his team to find improvements.
After the post-season test in Valencia, Quartararo was ‘far from satisfied’ with the V4, and it seems that his marriage with Yamaha is coming to an inevitable end.
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Yamaha must let go of Fabio Quartararo to avoid derailing their MotoGP operation for years
Quartararo doesn’t know when he’ll address his future, and it could depend a lot on what his team shows him during the pre-season test at Sepang.
Just a few weeks ago, Quartararo warned he will ‘make a change’ if the V4 doesn’t have an impressive showing at the start of 2026.
But, is that the direct opposite motivation required at the moment? It’s all well putting pressure on, but rushing components and upgrades through can have adverse effects.
Which bike will Fabio Quartararo be riding in 2027?
There’s a higher chance that they don’t work or end up being a waste of time if they fail, leaving his team tracing their steps and wasting even more time than they should.
It’s the sort of thing that could set them back a few more years and leave them in a worse position than if they were to let go of Quartararo.
Seeing their superstar rider depart will hurt, but it may be necessary if they want to have a competitive bike again in the future.
Where might Fabio Quartararo go if he was to leave Yamaha?
Yamaha want to spend the first half of 2026 on ‘development’, which is a situation that would probably see Quartararo leave.
In which case, where would he go? The most obvious choice would be somewhere with a Ducati bike, as they offer him the best chance to win immediately.
Perhaps a factory Honda ride could be an option, too, and they would also pay well, but are they in a much better position than Yamaha?
Aprilia feels unlikely, especially since they are happy with their factory line-up, and KTM haven’t done enough winning for his liking.
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