Fabio Quartararo has stated that Yamaha is unlikely to introduce an updated version of its V4 MotoGP engine before the French Grand Prix at Le Mans in May. The French rider indicated that the team will continue using the existing engine for several upcoming races, including the early rounds in Brazil, the USA, and Qatar.
Yamaha’s Performance Challenges Exposed in Thailand
The Thailand Grand Prix last weekend revealed a significant straight-line speed disadvantage for Yamaha’s 2026 bike. Quartararo recorded roughly a 6.5 km/h deficit compared to the fastest motorcycles at Buriram, with other Yamaha riders experiencing even larger speed losses. This exposed the considerable gap Yamaha must close to be competitive this season.
Technical Efforts Behind Yamaha’s New V4 Engine
Yamaha has undertaken a comprehensive redevelopment of its V4 engine, creating a clean-sheet design for the 2026 season. This major engineering project contributed to the manufacturer falling behind in the final year of the preceding regulations. Testing was further complicated by imposed engine mileage limitations and a safety issue that halted the team’s track time for an entire day at Sepang.
Fabio Quartararo’s Expectations on Engine Upgrades
Speaking at Buriram, Quartararo clarified the timing for engine improvements will be later than some had hoped. He said,
“I don’t know when it will be, but I know that at least in Le Mans we will not have a new engine. I’m not 100% sure, but for Brazil, USA and Qatar, we will not have any.”
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Yamaha’s Broader Development Strategy Beyond the Engine
While the V4 engine presents a clear area for improvement, Yamaha must also focus on enhancing other components of the M1 machine. The company is actively refining the bike’s frame and swingarm; the current iteration of the bike is reportedly on its third frame and swingarm versions. These updates are part of the ongoing effort to improve overall performance despite the engine’s constraints.
Insight from Yamaha MotoGP Boss Paolo Pavesio
Paolo Pavesio, Yamaha’s MotoGP team principal, stressed the complexity of developing a completely new engine configuration, noting that the process remains challenging and time-consuming. He said,
“It’s correct that we are judged by the time and by the result on the track, but the bike has changed a lot from last year’s first wildcard in Misano. I think we are at frame number three already, and swingarm number three.”
He continued,
“We are planning by understanding this material. Sometimes it’s not just about putting in completely new material. I’m saying we are still finding the base package, and with the base package, we can start working in a bit more consistent way.”
Regarding the engine, Pavesio added,
“Engine is a bit of a different story because you measure the engine on a bench. We know we have power to look for; we have a plan. Checking the top speed, I hope you will see in the coming races we can find the correct compromise between performance and reliability. This is the tricky part.”
He also highlighted the universal challenge faced by all competitors, commenting,
“But again, it’s the same for everyone. I’m not saying it’s specifically difficult for us. The extra difficulty for us is this is a completely new engine configuration which we are learning.”
Looking Ahead: The Road to Competitiveness
Yamaha’s current situation underscores the extensive challenges involved in developing a new MotoGP engine while maintaining competitiveness. Quartararo and the Yamaha team will need to maximize the potential of the existing engine and chassis upgrades in the early races as they continue to work on performance improvements. The team aims to narrow the speed gap exposed in Thailand and build on incremental progress across upcoming rounds to enhance overall race results.
