Fabio Quartararo has rubbished claims that money was his motivation to stay at Yamaha after signing a new multi-year deal with his struggling manufacturer early this season.
Many believe that Fabio Quartararo’s decision to extend his contract with the Japanese manufacturer was motivated by financial issues, which he acknowledged has raised some concerns.
The 2021 MotoGP champion’s €12m per year salary is estimated make him the highest-paid rider in MotoGP currently. However, over the past few months, he has faced criticism for the M1’s lack of competitiveness and has even hinted that he might even be considering walking away from Yamaha.
In an interview with AS Quartararo was asked how much he is bothered by suggestions that he renewed with Yamaha mainly to boost his bank balance.
“A bit,” he admitted. “Only a little because I know the reason why I have stayed, and I have said it. It is because of the project that is being done and the way the people at Yamaha work.
“Of course, economics is a small reason for all the good things that I have noticed, which is more than promises.”
The goal of Yamaha’s long-term project is to bring back its past winning ways and the Frenchman knows it’s hardly a magic bullet.
“We lack time… We need a year,” he said. “At the beginning of next year I think we will be able to be in a different position than now.
“We will be able to start talking as in the past and not about thinking about whether we are capable of passing to Q2, and passing more times than now.”
Asked whether Yamaha’s ambitions to produce a bike over the next two years will be complicated by the regulation changes for 2027, Quartararo said: “With the investment they are making in Yamaha, I don’t really think we have to worry about that.
“Also, my contract is not for 2027. I believe that Yamaha’s goal in the short term is to return and, in the long term, to stay.”
Yamaha’s only consolation currently is that their bike isn’t the least competitive on the grid as that distinction has been preserved for Honda, who frequently finish last and have a similarly challenging mission to reclaim their former glory.
“Me, personally, I don’t care one bit about beating Honda,” Quartararo said. “Why would you want to look at the person behind you?
“I care about what we have. I don’t care about the others. You have to look at the people in front and not look at those behind.”
