Franco Morbidelli is ‘leaving’ VR46 and his MotoGP career looks to be over

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Franco Morbidelli’s departure from VR46 at the end of the 2026 MotoGP season is being treated like a foregone conclusion. Morbidelli is out of contract in December and the deal isn’t expected to be renewed.

Morbidelli has been racing in MotoGP since 2018, but his time in the championship may now be coming to an end. After making his debut with Honda satellite squad Marc VDS, he moved to the Yamaha-aligned SRT.

The Italian delivered his best season in 2020 when he won three races – his only victories to date – and finished runner-up to Suzuki’s Joan Mir. That put him in a position to join the factory team at the end of 2021 after Maverick Vinales’ ignominious departure.

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But after failing to live up to Yamaha’s hopes, he returned to satellite machinery at Pramac Ducati before shifting to VR46 last year.

Franco Morbidelli set to miss out on VR46 seat next to Fermin Aldeguer

Motorsport Espana have listed all the riders who are ‘leaving’ their teams at the end of the year. Some, like Francesco Bagnaia (Aprilia), Jorge Martin (Yamaha), Fabio Quartararo (Honda), Pedro Acosta (Ducati) and Alex Marquez (KTM) are moving voluntarily.

But Alex Rins has lost his Yamaha seat to Ai Ogura, putting his MotoGP future in doubt. Morbidelli is in a similar boat.

VR46 are signing Fermin Aldeguer from Gresini, which means either Fabio Di Giannantonio or Morbidelli will lose their ride. Given that Di Giannantonio is currently the highest-ranking Ducati in the standings, with two poles and a podium to his name this year, he is clearly more likely to stay.

Indeed, GPOne add that Di Giannantonio is ‘expected’ to partner Aldeguer in a move that would ‘sideline’ Morbidelli. He isn’t named as a candidate for any vacancy elsewhere on the grid.

It turns out Franco Morbidelli isn’t MotoGP’s ‘Lance Stroll’ after all

Morbidelli has been linked with a World Superbikes ride, potentially in Ducati colours. The 31-year-old is approaching 150 starts in MotoGP but may now have to switch disciplines.

Morbidelli had been likened to Lance Stroll, the Aston Martin Formula 1 driver. Stroll races for a team owned by his father, Lawrence, so his seat is always secure.

As the first official member of the VR46 academy, Morbidelli has formed a strong bond with Valentino Rossi, but it seems that this won’t be enough to save him.