Yamaha MotoGP rider Fabio Quartararo has admitted he’s “not really sad” about the early departure of his now-former team-mate Maverick Vinales.
Quartararo and Vinales represented an opportunity for a future-proof premier-class line-up for Yamaha, but while new arrival Quartararo has thrived, Vinales grew increasingly disillusioned on the other side of the garage.
This led to him requesting a release from Yamaha midway through what was his third two-year deal with the manufacturer, but Vinales’ subsequent Red Bull Ring outburst ultimately led an even swifter split.
The press conference ahead of the Silverstone MotoGP round was the first time Quartararo faced the media since Vinales’ mid-season exit was made official, and the Frenchman wasn’t particularly diplomatic with his answer.
“Well, it’s a thing that I don’t really care [about],” Quartararo said when asked whether he was sad Vinales wouldn’t see out the season.
“I’m focused on my job, so it’s something that doesn’t really affect me.”
There have never been any public hostilities of any sort between Vinales and Quartararo, but the latter did make it clear that he did not share Vinales’ frustrations with the M1.
“I don’t feel sad,” he continued. “I’m just enjoying myself.
“It’s an individual sport, I have a new team-mate this weekend [in Cal Crutchlow]. I’m not really sad.”
Petronas Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi, who was Vinales’ team-mate for four seasons at the works team, had previously indicated that he believed Vinales and Yamaha would be able to hash out an agreement to at least see out the season.
But now that that hasn’t transpired, he admitted he was looking forward to seeing how Vinales goes on the Aprilia, with the Spaniard set for his debut test on the RS-GP bike next week at Misano.
“This is very interesting because looks like the Aprilia is competitive and Maverick is a very fast guy. So this will be interesting for the second part of the season,” he said.
