Fabio Quartararo’s move to Honda in 2027 will reportedly come with a major change away from the racetrack, as the Frenchman is set to end his long-standing partnership with Monster Energy.
According to Motorsport.com, Red Bull is preparing to return as a sponsor of Honda’s factory MotoGP team next season. That creates a direct conflict for Quartararo, who has been a Monster athlete since making his MotoGP debut in 2019.
Quartararo is set to join Honda as its factory rider for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, with the move coinciding with MotoGP’s new 850cc technical regulations. However, his personal sponsorship agreement with Monster reportedly extends beyond the end of 2026.
Motorsport.com reports that Honda will cover the compensation required to end Quartararo’s Monster contract, allowing the former MotoGP champion to join Red Bull’s athlete roster from January.
The first signs of the change could come at the post-season Valencia test, where Quartararo is expected to make his first appearance on Honda machinery.
Source: Crash.net
The Red Bull-Honda partnership marks a return for the energy drinks giant, which previously backed Honda’s factory team before leaving following Marc Márquez’s departure from the manufacturer. Red Bull is expected to have a more prominent presence on Honda’s 2027 MotoGP bike than it did during its previous partnership.
The development also adds another twist to the ongoing battle between Red Bull and Monster for visibility in MotoGP. Monster currently has major sponsorship ties with Yamaha and Aprilia, as well as a presence with Ducati, while Red Bull remains closely associated with KTM.
For Quartararo, the switch represents another significant change as he prepares to leave Yamaha after a long relationship with the manufacturer. He will also begin a new chapter with Honda without the Monster branding that has accompanied him throughout his MotoGP career.
The reported sponsorship change remains part of the wider preparations for the 2027 season, with Honda's new rider line-up and Red Bull's return adding further intrigue to the start of MotoGP's new technical era.
