In 2018, Petronas SRT surprised the MotoGP world by securing Fabio Quartararo for the 2019 season, banking on his raw ability despite modest results in Moto2 and Moto3. While opinions were divided, management believed that with the right platform, Quartararo’s immense early-career promise would come to fruition.
That belief was quickly validated. In his debut premier class season with Yamaha machinery, Quartararo claimed six pole positions and seven podiums riding an older M1, regularly challenging Marc Marquez in intense finishes. Yamaha soon marked Quartararo as the successor to Valentino Rossi, affirming that vision by signing him for the factory squad in 2021. Three wins in an unpredictable 2020 campaign solidified their confidence, and Quartararo went on to clinch the 2021 title, breaking Yamaha’s six-year drought since Jorge Lorenzo’s championship in 2015.
But success has proven fleeting. Despite his upstanding efforts, the Frenchman has not claimed a victory since the 2022 German Grand Prix, with Yamaha too falling short. Nonetheless, Yamaha signed Quartararo through 2026 with a lucrative €12 million contract, fending off contenders like Aprilia—whose own €4 million offer was hampered by inconsistency and a lack of proven competitiveness at the time.
In hindsight, critics contend that by end of 2025, Quartararo’s decision to remain with the Japanese manufacturer was questionable, potentially guided by financial incentives. Still, the reasoning is more complex; Quartararo recognizes his skill and negotiates accordingly. While Marc Marquez accepted a lower pay to move to a stronger bike at Gresini in 2024—following his struggles at Honda—his situation was distinct. Marquez, in the twilight of his career, needed to prove his ability to win again, accepting Ducati’s base contract in exchange for a shot at further titles. As the next negotiation cycle looms, he is expected to press for a contract matching his true market worth.
Meanwhile, Aprilia’s rise in 2025 cast doubt on Quartararo’s Yamaha loyalty, but the engineering prowess spearheaded by Max Bartolini convinced him to stay. For Yamaha, this was a strategic win, but it also intensified scrutiny of the brand’s MotoGP future strategy.
Quartararo’s Individual Brilliance Amid Yamaha’s Growing Dependency
Despite Yamaha’s slide in recent years, Quartararo continues to be one of MotoGP’s top talents. His 2025 season cemented this, securing ninth overall and standing alone as the only Japanese manufacturer’s rider within the championship top ten, eclipsing factory peers even as Honda found the podium.
Yamaha’s lack of success was underscored by Quartararo’s silver at the Spanish Grand Prix, which was the team’s single Sunday podium. The points chasm between him and Yamaha’s next-best pilot—Jack Miller, who finished 17th—spanned 122 points, highlighting an overreliance on Quartararo’s results. Out of 22 races, he found himself in the top ten 20 times, making Q2 all but once, and amassed six pole positions. In contrast, the rest of Yamaha’s fleet could only manage one front-row start among three riders.
While Quartararo is considered a generational athlete, Yamaha’s inability to build upon his 2021 world title has threatened the prime of his career. His criticism—often forthright—about Yamaha’s technical stagnation is understandable, especially given his continued commitment despite frustrations. The introduction of Max Bartolini as technical director revitalized hopes, with Yamaha’s bold move to develop a V4 engine intended to keep Quartararo invested for the long term.
Yet, mutual impatience is increasingly evident. Quartararo, underwhelmed with the new V4 during early testing, refrained from significant praise except to say he liked how it felt. The main concern with the V4 is a lack of front-end feedback, an area where the previous inline-four excelled. With the V4 still in its infancy, Yamaha has chosen not to make big promises for the first half of the next season—unsettling for a rider with little patience left and a rapidly changing 2027 rider market approaching.
Challenges Mount: Yamaha’s Options Narrow as Quartararo Voices Frustration
Quartararo’s open discontent with both the old and current bikes has tested the patience of Yamaha’s management, particularly Paolo Pavesio. Speaking recently to Speedweek, Pavesio stated,
“We’re all professionals and we’re in the same boat. We offered him the opportunity to race for Yamaha, and he accepted…Complaining too much in public doesn’t help the company’s commitment.”
– Paolo Pavesio, Yamaha Management. This response reflects internal tensions as negotiation windows near and few immediate improvements are on the horizon.
With nothing more than an enhanced paycheck and long-term promises to offer, Yamaha’s leverage is slipping. Quartararo, having seen the limitations of monetary incentives, is likely pondering the Marquez case when weighing his options for 2027. Crucially, he has already declined offers from Ducati and Aprilia—machines currently dominating the grid. Missing out again may not be an option he will entertain.
The 2027 rule changes, particularly the move to 850cc engines, will shake up the landscape. At present, only Yamaha’s bike seems incapable of taking race wins, making it a dicey bet. To persuade Quartararo to stay, Yamaha must promise improvement—both with the V4 and through the input of Toprak Razgatlioglu and the adaptation to Pirelli tires. However, significant progress from rival brands like Honda, Ducati, and Aprilia will make the task uphill. Yamaha was notably affected the last time a tire supplier changed, so history is not on their side. Absent a dramatic turnaround, there is a growing case for Yamaha to make the difficult choice to part ways with its star rider.
Yamaha’s Dilemma: Parting Ways with Its Superstar May Offer Long-Term Gains
Yamaha has prior experience with unsettled talent, such as when Maverick Vinales resigned in 2021 yet left persistent issues unresolved. The emergence of the V4 project positions Yamaha at a juncture where unity among all riders is essential to effective development. Riders like Alex Rins and Jack Miller, without recent championship fights, can manage expectations more easily. Nonetheless, for the V4 to succeed, Yamaha needs comprehensive input, not just results-chasing from its top star. Should Quartararo focus exclusively on podiums, it could hinder necessary progress, especially as Razgatlioglu learns MotoGP intricacies while developing for 2027.
Yamaha need only look to Honda for precedent. When Honda lost Marc Marquez—a move widely seen as a low point—the company reinvested resources, signed Romano Albesiano as technical director, brought in Aleix Espargaro for testing, and rapidly became competitive again. By 2025, Honda’s resurgence made it a compelling destination for names like Jorge Martin and Pedro Acosta, and with Quartararo now linked to the marque, its influence only stands to grow. Letting go of a rider who consistently pushes the limits can force a team to adopt a broader development approach, as Honda’s experience has demonstrated.
The Weakness of Yamaha’s Rider Line-Up: Facing a Thin Market for 2027
Should Yamaha and Quartararo part ways, short-term pain is inevitable. Even with Quartararo still on board, Yamaha’s stock is low. The ideal scenario—top-tier talent flooding the 2027 market—is increasingly unlikely. In 2024, despite retaining Quartararo as its brightest asset, Yamaha’s squad lacked depth. Alex Rins struggled for form after injury, Jack Miller was nearly edged out for 2025 until bureaucratic luck intervened, and Miguel Oliveira’s performance dwindled amid injuries after two years with Aprilia.
The high-profile acquisition of three-time World Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlioglu brought excitement, but there’s a sense of urgency regarding his MotoGP adaptation. Should Razgatlioglu meet expectations, Yamaha may be more willing to critique Quartararo, sensing the emergence of a new star in the making. Still, replacing Quartararo with a rider of equal stature seems unlikely. For the sake of long-term competitiveness, Yamaha might have to weather a period of mediocrity to rebuild towards future title contention.
Ultimately, Yamaha’s MotoGP future strategy is fraught with risk no matter the route: maintaining a frustrated superstar or engineering a new era without him. However, when long-term progress hangs in the balance, a bold shift may prove essential, regardless of the immediate turbulence it brings.
