Yamaha's apparent calm is merely a facade. Behind the scenes, tensions are rising. With the rider market for 2027 shaping up to be the most explosive of the decade, Yamaha MotoGP team director Massimo Meregalli admits that discussions have already begun… without Fabio Quartararo. This admission speaks volumes about the fragile balance between the Japanese manufacturer and its star rider.
Rarely has a season carried so much weight before it even begins. At the end of 2026, almost all MotoGP contracts expire, opening the door to a gigantic game of musical chairs.
Even Marc Marquez He acknowledged this week that the best drivers could be signed even before the first race. In this context, fabio quartararo, the 2021 world champion, is one of the key players in the market, just like Marquez ou Pedro Acosta.
The relationship between Quarterly et Yamaha It's crumbling. The reason is simple: the motorcycle was never up to scratch.
The announced transition to V4 engine for 2026 is perceived in the paddock as the last resort of Yamaha to convince the Frenchman to stay. Problem: the development schedule of Yamaha does not meet expectations Quarterlywho wants a motorcycle that is immediately competitive, not a long-term promise.
Yamaha presentation in Jakarta: Fabio Quartararo dodges, Yamaha delays
During the Yamaha 2026 presentation in Jakarta, Quarterly He carefully avoided any questions about his future. A silence heavy with meaning.
For his part, Meregalli tried to calm things down… without completely reassuring anyone: “ As you can imagine, we have already begun internal discussions. ", did he declare. " But it's a bit early to say anything. »
Then comes the phrase that raises eyebrows: " Of course, we will speak to Fabio as soon as possible. "Meregalli insists, however: Of course, we would really like to continue with Fabio if Fabio wishes to stay. »
A revealing formulation. It's no longer Yamaha who imposes his vision. That's what Yamaha hopes.
The Italian manager adds on crash.net : " We would also like to see how Alex Rins will start the season. In other words: everyone is evaluated, including Quarterly.
These last months, Quarterly has been seriously linked to Honda et Aprilia for 2027. This is not a trivial rumor.
Already in 2024, Aprilia Yamaha had offered him a contract for 2025. Yamaha only kept its champion by pulling out a massive offer of 12 million euros per year, at the height of its technical crisis.
The message is clear: the market is ready to overpay for talent capable of making a difference.
Yamaha is talking about internal discussions. The other teams are talking about money, performance, and titles.
fabio quartararo He never hid his priority: to win. Not to wait. Not to rebuild forever.
If the V4 2026 is not immediately convincing, the split will no longer be a threat, but a certainty. In 2027, Yamaha It won't just be a matter of offering a contract. It will have to offer a reason to stay. And this time, words won't be enough.
