Fabio Quartararo has delivered a candid assessment of his current situation at Yamaha, admitting his motivation is beginning to fade after another frustrating weekend at the Italian Grand Prix.
The former MotoGP world champion endured one of his toughest races of the season at Mugello, finishing second from last as Yamaha's ongoing competitiveness issues continued to limit his ability to fight for meaningful results.
Quartararo revealed that during the race he deliberately chose not to push beyond the bike's limits, believing the potential reward was not worth the risk.
"Honestly, I tried to push a bit in the middle of the race. But I was so close to the limit that I decided to back off a little, because there's no point wasting that much energy for a single point," he said.
The Frenchman had briefly raised expectations earlier in the season with a strong performance at Le Mans, but disappointing outings in Catalunya and Mugello have reinforced the challenges facing both rider and manufacturer.
His latest comments offered a glimpse into the mental toll of spending another season outside the fight for podiums and victories. Quartararo admitted that if asked today, his motivation is no longer at the level it once was, a reflection of the difficulties he has faced aboard the Yamaha M1.
Despite his frustrations, the 2021 world champion remains hopeful that upcoming circuits could offer a more competitive opportunity and help restore some confidence after a difficult run of races.
Adding to the speculation surrounding his future are ongoing rumours linking him with a move to Honda. While no agreement has been officially confirmed, reports continue to circulate that the Frenchman could be considering a change for next season as he searches for a return to the front of the grid.
For now, Quartararo's focus remains on extracting the maximum from a challenging package and seeing out a difficult campaign as positively as possible.
The MotoGP paddock now heads to Hungary and the Balaton Park Circuit, where Quartararo will be looking for signs of progress. The venue carries mixed memories for the French rider following a sprint race incident there last year, but it also presents another opportunity to reverse the momentum of a frustrating season.
