The 2026 season has only just arrived, but Fabio Quartararo is already causing a stir.
Fabio Quartararo is set to leave the Monster Energy Yamaha team at the end of the 2026 season and has signed with Honda HRC. The deal will see the 26 year old Frenchman at Honda until the end of 2028.
Quartararo was given his debut by Yamaha in 2019 in their satellite team, before stepping up to the factory team in 2021. He has racked up 11 race wins, 32 podiums, 21 pole positions and a World Championship in Yamaha colours. But the relationship has been strained over the past few years. The Frenchman noted that his decision to re-sign with the team in 2024 was one made out of faith based on Yamaha’s potential. He wanted to be able to fight the best bike on the grid (Ducati), he wanted race wins and maybe even another championship. But the performance of the bike simply hasn’t been there. Development hasn’t met expectations and a change in the team’s management has done little to calm any frustration. Now, it seems, “El Diablo” has run out of patience.
The move will undoubtedly be a hot talking point throughout the season. Then there’s the obvious next question. Who will be riding alongside him? Honda’s current factory riders, Joan Mir and Luca Marini have contracts that expire at the end of 2026. Pedro Acosta and Jorge Martín have also been the subject of contract talks in recent months. Notably, Martín already tried to leave Aprilia early last season following talks with Honda
All change at Yamaha
There’s been some significant changes to the bike itself for the 2026 season. Yamaha is running a V4 configuration, something that brought them countless successes in the past.
General Manager, Takahiro Sumi, believes things are looking good:
“We’ve already seen encouraging signs: improved braking stability, better acceleration potential, and a more consistent feeling over long runs. Success early on in the season will not be measured just based on results: every lap adds knowledge that will propel us forward. Our focus for 2026 is centred on accelerating development speed and ensuring seamless integration between design, testing, and racing. We strive to consistently gain momentum – the results will follow.”
We have the Sepang Shakedown and the Sepang Test taking place over the next two weeks. Only time will tell if Yamaha have finally delivered on their 2024 promise.
Feature image credit – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP