The question about the rumored agreement between Quartararo and Honda came after a press conference that began with talking about the V4. Fabio burst out laughing."I was surprised. I thought you weren't going to ask me anything!" The French rider has been at the center of all the discord in the paddock (and beyond) in recent days. Today, in Sepang, he decided to give his version of the events.
"The only thing I can confirm today is that I'm talking to several teams, and Honda is one of them, but I haven't signed anything," he said.
Are you also talking to Yamaha?
"Of course... But I can't tell you everything," he said, laughing. We're talking to many teams, and I'll take the time I need to make my decision for 2027. Nothing has been decided or signed at this time."
Isn't managing this situation difficult for you before the first official tests of the season have started?
"I have the right people by my side helping me. It's not something that puts pressure on me. When I was younger, I learned that you're under a lot of pressure when no teams want you. In that case, you get scared and can't ride. When you have offers, however, everything becomes easier mentally. Having lots of offers is a pleasure not stress."
How will you decide, also taking into account the regulatory change?
"I'll flip a coin!" He laughed. "It's a gamble for me and for everyone. When you've been with a top team for a long time, you want to stay there, but you have to listen to everyone and understand their plans. Clearly, they want to sell themselves in the best possible way, but I think it's going to have to be my personal decision when I choose whether to stay or leave. It's not a gamble, but it's definitely a gamble for all the riders."
Could the contract make a difference?
"I don't really like this question because everyone always throws around numbers, even at this point when nothing has been signed. I could double or halve that number, but that's not what I'm looking for. I want to win. You saw my emotions at Silverstone (ed. when he was forced to retire while leading). It's not about money but about the happiness of being on the podium."
How long do you have before you decide?
"Enough," he said smiling.
Let's talk about the new M1 V4.
"I can't say much about the Shakedown. We need more time to better understand the new bike, especially on the part of the engineers. Some of them have already worked with the V4 but most, especially the Japanese, have no experience. We'll see how we'll do during these three test days, with everyone on the track. I hope we can progress."
What's the program for the three days of testing?
"We'll have to measure our level by comparing ourselves with the others, and we'll also have some details to sort out."
Do you have to work hard on your riding style?
"I'm happy from that point of view. I have to adapt to a new riding style because the bike is different. Last year, our strong point was cornering, and the M1 V4 isn't at that level, but we have room for improvement. I'm riding in a different way, and I still have to figure out how to get one hundred percent out of this bike."