Fabio Quartararo’s Dilemma: Staying Competitive or Chasing the Money?
As the 2024 MotoGP season approaches, Fabio Quartararo faced a tough decision. Should he prioritize immediate success or long-term financial gain? After much contemplation, the Frenchman announced his contract extension with Yamaha on Friday, making him the highest-earning rider on the grid.
But why did Quartararo have to make this choice in the first place? The answer lies in Yamaha’s lack of progress. Since winning the title in 2021, Quartararo’s performance on the M1 has been on a downward spiral, similar to Honda’s struggles with Marc Marquez. In fact, Marquez was forced to leave the team due to exhaustion and forfeit his €20 million contract.
Meanwhile, Quartararo has been struggling with the M1’s limitations, particularly in terms of traction and handling. His last contract renewal in 2022 came at a time when the bike was competitive, with three wins and multiple podium finishes. But in 2023, the M1 only managed three podiums, and in 2024, Quartararo’s best finish so far has been seventh.
Despite Yamaha’s internal restructuring and the arrival of a new technical director, the team’s progress will take time. With the current technical regulations in place until 2027, closing the gap between Yamaha and its competitors will not be an easy task. And this is assuming that the team makes the right decisions. If not, it could take even longer.
So why did Quartararo choose to stay with Yamaha despite knowing that the bike may not be competitive for the duration of his new contract? The answer lies in the team’s financial offer. Quartararo’s new contract is worth around €12 million, more than double what Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia earns. Even if Bagnaia were to win his third consecutive title, he would not match Quartararo’s salary.
But staying with Yamaha was not Quartararo’s only option. Aprilia
