Fabio Quartararo is doing everything he can to bring Yamaha back to the top of the grid, and now he has revealed he has been learning from the world of Formula 1.

Quartararo visited the F1 paddock during the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, where he spent time with some of the sport’s biggest names, including Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. But this wasn’t just a social visit, because Quartararo used the opportunity to learn how Formula 1 teams operate behind the scenes.

During his day at the track, he got an inside look at how F1 drivers communicate with their engineers, both during the races and in their debriefs afterwards. He was even allowed to listen in on team radio conversations and attend technical meetings.

“It was really interesting to hear what Lewis and Charles discussed with their engineers,” Quartararo told Speedweek. “There are so many small details. I came away with a lot of useful ideas.”

Formula 1 is known for being extremely technical, with teams constantly analysing data and making rapid adjustments. Quartararo realised that MotoGP, although different, could benefit from some of that same structured approach.

So, after he returned from Barcelona, Quartararo sat down with his Yamaha team to rethink how they prepare for races and analyse performance. One of the first changes? Moving team meetings from the busy garage to a proper meeting room with video screens.

“Before, our meetings were pretty simple,” Quartararo explained. “Now we use a TV to go through everything in more detail. It helps us explain things more clearly.”

The main goal, he says, is to better understand tyre behaviour, which is a crucial part of MotoGP performance.

“I told the team I need more information, especially about the tyres. That’s where we’re focusing now. It’s not a huge change, but step by step we’re improving.”

However, his changes come at a time when Yamaha is showing signs of progress, while also facing serious challenges.

In qualifying, they have taken a big step forward. Quartararo has managed to secure four consecutive pole positions, including at the Dutch TT in Assen. This shows that the bike has strong pace over a single lap, especially on Saturdays.

However, race day has been a different story. Over full race distances, the Yamaha bike struggles to keep up with faster bikes like Ducati, Aprilia, and KTM. The problem lies mainly in acceleration and top-end speed, which are areas Yamaha have traditionally fallen behind in.

Behind the scenes, Yamaha engineers are working on a brand-new V4 engine, which could be a game-changer. Most of Yamaha’s rivals already use V4 layouts, which offer better performance for modern MotoGP racing. If the new engine performs well, it could finally bring Yamaha back to the front of the grid.

But for Quartararo, time is running out. As the highest-paid rider in the championship, he is under pressure to deliver, and he is putting just as much pressure on Yamaha to give him the tools to do it.

“If we want to fight for wins and titles, we need a proper package,” he has said openly. “I’m doing everything I can, but I need a bike that can match the others.”

So much like Lewis Hamilton before at Mercedes, and now at Ferrari, Quartararo is more than just a rider. He is helping to shape Yamaha’s development path and pushing everyone to aim higher.

He may not have the same resources or technology as Formula 1, but Quartararo believes MotoGP teams can still learn from how F1 handles things. His visit to Barcelona proved that fresh ideas and better communication can make a real difference, even in a sport as fast and unpredictable as motorcycle racing.

As the season continues, all eyes will be on Quartararo and Yamaha to see whether these changes will lead to real results.

And if they do, part of the credit might just go to a conversation he had with Lewis Hamilton on a sunny weekend in Spain.