Yamaha's recent announcement of their development of a V4 engine sets the stage for pivotal moments for the manufacturer. As the only team still racing with an inline-four-cylinder engine since Suzuki's departure, Yamaha finds itself at a crossroads. It must either embrace change and opt for the dominant V4 engine or continue with their unique approach.

The pressure to switch engines is evident. Yamaha hasn’t celebrated a victory since Fabio Quartararo’s triumph at the German Grand Prix in 2022. Yet, as Yamaha's technical director Max Bartolini points out, the transition to a V4 isn’t a simple engine swap—it requires a full-scale reconfiguration of the bike.

A New Engine

“When you think about the V4 engine, you have to think not only about the engine,” Bartolini told MotoGP.com. “It means a completely different bike—new chassis, weight distribution, and parts. We don’t even know yet if it’s faster.”

Yamaha has decided to invest in more testing, which is planned ahead of the 2025 season. While the team eyes immediate improvements, Bartolini acknowledges that competing teams are relentless in their progress. “To catch up, we have to accelerate faster than they do,” he admitted.

The 2027 Rule Changes

Another problem in Yamaha’s V4 development is the upcoming 2027 rule changes. Developing a competitive V4 while preparing for new regulations is a daunting task. Bartolini is pragmatic: “We cannot keep developing many parallel projects—it’s too time- and effort-consuming. We’ll stick with whichever package proves faster.”

Signs of Progress

Even amid the V4 debate, Yamaha is quietly addressing the weaknesses of its inline-four-powered YZR-M1. Fabio Quartararo’s recent performances hint at some progress. Bartolini credits this to a blend of Japanese precision and European dynamism, a cultural mix he’s observed since joining Yamaha from Ducati last winter.

“They say the Japanese think 10 times before acting, while Europeans act 10 times before thinking. If we can balance these approaches, we’ll find a good compromise,” he explained.

Bartolini also acknowledged the daunting scope of Yamaha’s challenges: “When you have many small areas to improve, it takes immense effort. But at least now, we understand what needs to be done. Finding the way to do it? That’s the hard part.”

2025

The upcoming season will see Yamaha expand its presence with Pramac Racing becoming its first satellite team since 2022, bringing two additional riders—Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira—into the fold. Bartolini sees this as a critical step forward.

“Having four riders instead of two will help us gather more feedback,” he said, expressing optimism about fresh perspectives. Bartolini also praised Miller’s untapped potential: “Jack is incredibly fast; I hope we can unlock that speed here.”