The relationship between Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha is at a decisive moment, with the French rider revealing surprising details about the internal transformation of the Japanese brand and the factors that influenced his controversial contract renewal.
In statements on the “Pol Position” show, Quartararo praised the shift in mindset within the team: ‘Working with the Japanese has always been good, sometimes too slow, but there are now many Europeans involved. Above all, the Japanese here have also become a bit more European… if something works, they apply it. This was a huge shift that the engineers are making.’
The decision to stay with Yamaha was not just technical. The Frenchman admitted: ‘For me, the number one priority has always been the project. I won’t lie, the financial aspect also played a role in my decision.’ This honesty contrasts with the usual statements from riders, who often emphasize purely sporting motivations.
The year 2023 was mentally challenging for Quartararo: ‘2023 was a mentally tough year. I went from fighting for the world championship to finding myself in 10th or 12th place. I worked a lot with a coach, but now we see that I need to be calmer.’ This experience led him to improve communication with his technical team.
His emotional connection to the brand was also a factor: ‘It was the brand I always dreamed of being with when I was a kid watching Valentino Rossi. It was the brand that allowed me to move up to MotoGP.’ Now, with Yamaha making significant investments, Quartararo hopes that 2027 will bring the rewards of this joint effort.