Marco Bezzecchi
Fabio Quartararo’s exit from Yamaha has been confirmed. The news has been a long time coming, and it is no surprise, especially with the rumours about their 850cc project.
It has been well-documented that the 2021 MotoGP champion has lost patience with the Iwata outfit. Since that season and his failed title defence in 2022, Yamaha have failed to give Quartararo, and their other riders for that matter, a competitive bike.
With his last win coming in 2022, the Frenchman has been very open about his frustrations, saying that he is lost on the bike and is losing motivation. Quartararo will be joining Honda in 2027, and it is not hard to see why.
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Fabio Quartararo is right to leave Yamaha as they are far behind with their 850cc bike
Yamaha’s V4 engine has been desperately lacking power in 2026, with the manufacturer having scored just 59 points thus far. Quartararo has continued to show his incredible talent, outperforming the bike numerous times, but his anger has been clear to see.
Quartararo admits he has been ‘too vocal’ with criticism of Yamaha. While it is true that it ultimately does not improve their struggles, one cannot blame the 27-year-old for his frustrations, especially when the project is not going anywhere fast.
According to journalist Neil Morrison, rumours in the paddock are suggesting that Yamaha are behind with their 850cc bike for the 2027 regulations. Given how far behind the team have been with development over the years, Quartararo absolutely made the right call to leave.
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Morrison explained via the Paddock Pass Podcast: “But just some things that we’re hearing from the paddock this weekend that Yamaha are quite far behind with their 850cc project.
“It seems like they’ve put so much concentration into getting this V4 engine ready and up to speed for this year, but it’s not really up to speed, is it?
“And the fact that they’re so far behind in the 850 kind of running at this stage is a slight cause for concern, I think for Ai Ogura and Jorge Martin next year.
“Augusto Fernandez shows up and, OK, it was going to be a tough job because he’s been spending a lot of time testing the 850 or well, what is their early version of the 850 on Pirellis. Not really speaking that highly of what he’s testing.”
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It is still early days in development, of course, but right now, this feels like a lucky escape for Quartararo. In fact, he may have pulled off a genius move, as Honda are ‘ahead of schedule’ for 2027 and are progressing nicely with their 850cc bike.
However, it is hugely concerning for Yamaha’s new signings, Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura. In 2026, they are both fighting for the championship on Aprilia RS-GPS, but come next year, unless things improve, they could be stuck at the back of the grid.
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