Yamaha will not introduce a new MotoGP engine until after the French Grand Prix, according to rider Fabio Quartararo. The French rider explained that the team is still working on improving its bike and that any important upgrade is unlikely to arrive during the early races of the 2026 season.

The early part of the season has already shown that Yamaha is struggling to match its main rivals. During the Thailand Grand Prix, the Yamaha bikes were noticeably slower on the straights. Quartararo’s bike was around 6.5 km/h slower than the fastest machines in the speed trap, while some of the other Yamaha riders were even further behind. This lack of top speed made it harder for them to fight with the leading teams during the race.

Many fans expected Yamaha to introduce an improved engine early in the season to solve this problem. However, Quartararo has said that the team will probably have to wait until after the French Grand Prix before a new version becomes available. This means the riders will likely compete in several races using the current engine package.

Yamaha is currently going through an important technical change. The company has started developing a new V4 engine for its MotoGP bike, the Yamaha YZR‑M1. For many years Yamaha used an inline-four engine, but the V4 design is expected to give better acceleration and stronger performance compared with rival manufacturers such as Ducati and KTM, which already use this layout.

Even so, developing a new engine takes time. Engineers need to test many different parts and settings before the bike can be used in races. Quartararo has also warned that Yamaha’s rebuild could take months, because the team is still trying to understand how to make the new package fully competitive.

For now, Yamaha’s riders must focus on making the most of the equipment they have. Quartararo and his teammate Álex Rins will continue working with the engineers during race weekends and test sessions to improve the bike step by step.

The French Grand Prix, which takes place at the famous Le Mans circuit, could become an important moment in Yamaha’s season. If the new engine arrives after that race as expected, it may give the team a better chance of closing the performance gap to the front of the MotoGP field later in the year.