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Maverick Vinales says he lost over €15 million by leaving Yamaha midway through the 2021 MotoGP season.
Maverick Vinales discussed the financial repercussions of parting ways with Yamaha in 2021, revealing that relinquishing his contract with the brand amounted to approximately 17 million euros over two years. Vinales transitioned to the Tech3 KTM team for the current season after his tenure at Aprilia, which was marked by an abrupt exit from Yamaha following the Styrian Grand Prix. Reflecting on his time at Yamaha alongside Valentino Rossi, Vinales acknowledged Rossi’s astuteness on and off the track, highlighting the competitive but amicable dynamic they shared as teammates. Expressing some remorse over his departure from Yamaha, Vinales contemplated alternate actions he could have taken with the benefit of hindsight and maturity. Despite the financial impact of his decisions, Vinales reflected positively on his experiences with both Yamaha and Rossi, emphasizing the camaraderie and competition that defined those chapters of his career.