“I Needed Fresh Air”: Fabio Quartararo Reveals Reason Behind Honda Switch

Fabio Quartararo has finally opened up about his decision to leave Yamaha and join Honda for the 2027 MotoGP season, admitting he felt a major change was needed in his career.

The 2021 MotoGP world champion will end an eight-year relationship with Yamaha, including six seasons with the factory team, after deciding that Honda offered a more convincing path back to the front of the grid.

Speaking at Silverstone, Quartararo said he was happy with his decision and looking forward to starting the next chapter with Honda.

“I’m really happy to join Honda and looking forward to it,” Quartararo said.

The Frenchman revealed that discussions with Honda began last year, and he made the decision before entering the final year of his Yamaha contract.

Quartararo’s frustrations with Yamaha’s lack of competitiveness have been well documented. Despite the manufacturer’s efforts to improve its MotoGP package, the team has struggled to consistently challenge for wins and podiums.

For Quartararo, the priority was clear. He wanted a bike capable of fighting at the front again.

“I needed fresh air, new people and a new project,” he said. “I needed a change on everything, on the mental side and on the package side.”

Source: Yamaha Racing

Honda’s recent progress played an important role in convincing Quartararo to make the switch.

After struggling near the bottom of the championship standings in 2024, Honda began showing signs of a turnaround, securing a victory and three further podium finishes in 2025. Quartararo believes that progress, combined with Honda’s long-term plans, makes the manufacturer an attractive option for the future.

“The growth they have made in the last years and the project that is going to be in the future is really something that makes me want to go there,” he said.

The timing of the move is also significant, with MotoGP entering a major new era in 2027. The championship will introduce new technical regulations, including smaller 850cc engines, revised chassis and aerodynamic rules, as well as Pirelli becoming the new tyre supplier.

Quartararo acknowledged that joining Honda ahead of such a major reset comes with risks, but said he had received enough answers during talks with the manufacturer to feel confident about the project.

“We had many meetings with teams, and with Honda, I had my questions answered really well,” he explained. “Of course, it’s a gamble. But there is a part where I wanted to have some answers.”

The move therefore represents more than a change of machinery for Quartararo. After winning the world title with Yamaha in 2021, he is now looking for a fresh environment and a competitive project capable of reigniting his championship ambitions.

Honda, meanwhile, will hope the arrival of a proven MotoGP champion can accelerate its own return to the top.