Fabio Quartararo, the Yamaha Factory Racing star, is visibly frustrated with the team’s direction as they plan to introduce a new V4 engine for the 2026 MotoGP season. The French rider, who has been a loyal Yamaha competitor since his MotoGP debut in 2019, expressed skepticism and impatience regarding the team’s promises of improvement, particularly following comments from Yamaha team boss Paolo Pavesio about the V4 engine. Quartararo’s remarks come amidst a season marked by flashes of brilliance overshadowed by consistent disappointments, raising questions about his future with the Japanese manufacturer.

Quartararo’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. The 26-year-old has showcased his talent with four pole positions since April, demonstrating remarkable qualifying pace. However, his race results have often failed to match this potential. A technical failure at the British Grand Prix cost him a likely victory, adding to a string of underwhelming performances that have fueled his growing discontent. These setbacks have left Quartararo openly questioning Yamaha’s ability to deliver a competitive bike, a concern he voiced sharply during a media session in Germany.

When asked about Pavesio’s statements regarding the V4 engine planned for 2026, Quartararo was blunt. “I don’t know what he thinks,” he said, dismissing the team boss’s optimism about the new engine. “I don’t think he’s too much into the technical side of things.” For Quartararo, the specifics of the engine—whether it’s a V4 or the current inline-four—are secondary to performance. “In reality, they [Yamaha] know very well what they need to do to keep me,” he stated. “To be honest, I don’t care whether it’s the V4 or not, I just want a competitive bike for next year.”

This is not the first time Quartararo has publicly pressured Yamaha. At the Dutch Grand Prix last month, he issued a clear ultimatum, stating he “needs a winning project now.” His comments reflect a rider at a crossroads, torn between loyalty to the team that launched his MotoGP career and the desire for a machine capable of fighting for championships. Despite a third-place finish in the sprint race in Germany, Quartararo admitted that tensions within the team are rising. “Sure, it’s getting a little tense, because we’re always expecting more and more things, improvements. We can see that we don’t really have any,” he said.

The V4 engine, which Yamaha is developing to replace the current M1’s inline-four, has been a focal point of discussion. While Quartararo acknowledged “pretty good feedback” from testing, he was quick to point out its shortcomings. “The lap times are super slow,” he said, emphasizing that performance metrics matter more than subjective feel. “The feeling with a bike can be good, but…” he trailed off, his frustration evident. His body language in Germany further underscored his discontent. During Free Practice 2, he was seen angrily striking his machine after a technical issue, and he repeated the gesture in the Sunday warm-up session, visibly exasperated as he crossed the finish line.

Quartararo’s struggles highlight a broader challenge for Yamaha, a manufacturer that once dominated MotoGP but has struggled to keep pace with rivals like Ducati in recent years. The team’s inability to translate testing feedback into race-day results has eroded confidence, both for Quartararo and the Yamaha faithful. His public comments serve as a warning to the team: deliver a competitive bike or risk losing a rider who has been their cornerstone since 2019.

As the 2025 season progresses, Quartararo’s future with Yamaha hangs in the balance. His loyalty has been tested by a lack of progress, and his patience is wearing thin. The promise of a V4 engine in 2026 may be too far off for a rider eager to compete at the front now. For Yamaha, the task is clear: they must prove they can provide Quartararo with a bike capable of winning, or they may face the prospect of losing one of MotoGP’s brightest talents. With tensions mounting, the coming months will be critical for both rider and team as they navigate this pivotal moment in their partnership.