Fabio Quartararo warned that Yamaha has slipped backwards at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, stressing that avoiding injury is now his only realistic aim.
Weekend performance plummets
Qualifying saw the 2021 MotoGP champion post an 18th‑place time, nearly a second off the pace, while the sprint race landed him 14th. He was out‑qualified by teammate Alex Rins, who started and finished 12th, and by Pramac’s Jack Miller, who posted a superior qualifying lap despite later losing ground in the race.
Practice crash heightens concerns
Friday’s practice was marred by a high‑speed loss of front‑end grip at Turn 4, sending Quartararo into the gravel. A second near‑miss at the same corner prompted him to slam his hand on the bike in visible frustration.
Development stagnation fuels frustration
Speaking to Canal+, Quartararo said the progress felt after the Jerez test has vanished, describing the current Yamaha package as essentially unchanged for months. He blamed the lack of new components, noting that the team’s V4 engine transition has left them “completely lost” and that any hopes of scoring points appear slim.
With the Mugello weekend erasing recent optimism, Quartararo’s immediate focus shifts from podium ambitions to simply returning to the paddock unscathed, a stance that underscores Yamaha’s urgent need for fresh parts if the Frenchman is to remain competitive.
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