P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The factors behind Quartararo’s Yamaha MotoGP renewal
Fabio Quartararo had a crucial decision to make before extending his contract with Yamaha. He had to choose between aiming for short-term competitiveness or opting for a more lucrative long-term strategy. The lack of progress in Yamaha’s performance made it challenging for Quartararo to reach his previous winning form within the duration of his new deal. Despite being the highest-earning rider on the MotoGP grid, Yamaha’s decline in performance since 2021 has been noticeable, similar to another Japanese manufacturer in the championship.
After securing his last contract renewal as the reigning MotoGP champion in June 2022, Quartararo experienced a season where his bike was competitive, earning him multiple victories and podium finishes. However, the current form of the Yamaha M1 leaves much to be desired, with Quartararo struggling to match his previous success. Even though he signed a new contract spanning 2025-26, Quartararo is aware that his bike’s lack of competitiveness may persist throughout this period.
In the season-opener in Qatar, Quartararo faced significant challenges, being seconds behind the pole position time and finishing far from the top positions in the races. He has only managed a best result of seventh in 2024 on the Yamaha, indicating the current struggles of the team. Quartararo’s performance in the races following the season-opener have also been underwhelming, displaying the Yamaha’s limitations when compared to the competition. It seems that despite changes within Yamaha, including the arrival of a new technical director, the road to rebuilding the team’s competitiveness will be a long one, potentially exceeding the duration of Quartararo’s new contract.
