Quartararo enters the new season on the back of Yamaha’s first winless MotoGP campaign in two decades, as the Iwata brand lost more ground to its European rivals in the development race last year.
Quartararo had previously given a lukewarm review when he got to test his 2024 prototype in Valencia last year, having felt that the improvements he made in aerodynamics were undermined by a lack of progress on the engine side.
The Frenchman’s assessment was not much different when he was among the few racing riders selected to test a 2024 bike at the Sepang circuit last week, part of the new MotoGP concessions system that currently benefits Yamaha and Honda.
Although he admits that there is room to make significant steps, the 2021 champion suggested that his feeling on the Yamaha M1 was no better than last year, when he could only manage three podiums in 20 Grands Price.
“I’m not really feeling better right now,” he said. “I feel the potential is there.
“From lap 21 we didn’t make a time attack, but we made it safe with new tires. We pushed to our 100%.
“And from round 22, day 1, I did 58.5 so it’s already quite fast. Now we have to, during these three days, intensify in the time attack, which is already on the plan to be better.
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“The most important thing [part of the race weekend] it’s friday afternoon. To be already in the top 10 on Friday afternoon, 70% of the work is done.
“And then, of course, for qualifying, I think we have to find a solution on my riding style and my bike, I think it’s not just one sided, and we’ll find it.”
The lack of engine grunt has been Yamaha’s biggest weakness in MotoGP in recent years, making it difficult for Quartararo to move up the field whenever he fails to qualify near the front.
The Frenchman feels Yamaha needs to make progress on the electronics side to get more performance out of the M1’s engine, describing the current package’s power delivery as “quite aggressive”.
He said, “I’m sure [the engine is] better. But I think we have to work a lot in the electronics to improve the character of the engine because it is still quite aggressive and we have to… we have the potential, but we don’t use it.
“So I think with the electronics we are a little far, not only in the development of the engine, but we have to find the best electronics for this engine and use it on our bike.”
2024 marks the final season of Quartararo’s two-year contract with Yamaha and he previously said the Japanese manufacturer has limited time at his disposal to convince him to stay for another term.
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Yamaha MotoGP
But the Frenchman was coy when asked again about his future at Sepang, saying no decision has been made on where to race in 2025.
“We have to be smart,” he said. “They are 100% focused on the job. I think they are making great strides compared to previous years.
“So, of course, for my future, I’m going to take my time. Okay, of course, I think it’s going to be a really important move, I’d say.”
Quartararo is a new teammate Alex Rinswhich replaces the underperforming Franco Morbidelli at Yamaha, he will be in action again at this week’s Sepang test from February 6-8.
The new season will start on March 10 in Qatar after another pre-season test at the Losail circuit.
