Quartararo Denies Honda Deal After Sepang Setbacks

Reports before the first official 2026 pre-season test at Sepang claimed Fabio Quartararo had signed a two-year deal to join Honda from 2027, but the rider publicly denied a completed agreement while confirming HRC remained one of the options he was considering. The Sepang test itself was disrupted: Quartararo crashed on day one, broke a finger and missed the remainder of that session, and when he returned he encountered an engine problem Yamaha could not fix during the test. Yamaha also missed running after an unexpected engine issue described by team management as something they had “never had” before, with Alex Rins the top Yamaha finisher in 12th. Yamaha sporting director Massimo Meregalli said the Sepang incident did not change decisions on Quartararo’s future and characterized the interruption as a delay that pushed parts of the negotiation and testing programme toward the next test.

Yamaha acknowledged it had reduced engine revs as a protective measure while continuing development of its new V4 and planned to complete work left unfinished at Sepang during the upcoming Buriram test. The manufacturer emphasized continuity of its V4 programme and insisted contract talks over 2027 were proceeding despite the Sepang interruption. Quartararo himself denied reports he had already signed for Honda even as questions about Yamaha’s pace of development and testing reliability intensified coverage of his market options. Media reports and team comments linked the technical setbacks at Yamaha with increased speculation over the rider market, rather than presenting any confirmed move.

Honda presented a contrasting picture of forward momentum at Sepang. Team manager Alberto Puig praised Quartararo as “fantastic,” highlighted steady technical progress at HRC—including a lighter bike and improved engine response—and cautioned that immediate wins could not be guaranteed. Joan Mir set the fastest time on day two, in what was reported as the quickest Honda lap around Sepang, and described the current RC213V as the best bike he had ridden, adding weight to Honda’s on-track gains. Puig repeatedly denied that anything for 2027 was decided, said Honda would prioritize its current roster while seeking riders who were both fast and intelligent, and noted that Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira were already locked in with LCR through 2027, leaving factory-team seats contested between Mir and Luca Marini. Puig framed the 2026 contract season as chaotic and said on-track results and the evolving rule environment would shape final decisions once the season got underway.