Maverick Viñales has compared his current contractual dispute with KTM to his problematic separation from Yamaha, stating that the MotoGP teams have constantly pressured him to the limit. The Spanish rider has not hidden his frustration at how KTM has managed his contractual situation, holding the Austrian manufacturer responsible for the dangerous commitment to his future in competition.
Before the German Grand Prix this weekend, Viñales explained that he had signed for a contract extension until 2027, but a few weeks later he received the news that the agreement was no longer valid. In statements made after the Friday practice session at Sachsenring, Viñales recalled difficult moments from his breakup with Yamaha in 2021.
After being fired mid-season by Yamaha following a controversial incident at the Styria race, the rider pointed out that the current situation evokes his turbulent past. Viñales indicated that the conflict is not based on personal issues, but on how the teams manage him.
“The problem is the teams that push me to the limit with their decisions. They know that if I feel that the team is working at its maximum for me, I will also do the same for them,” he stated. Likewise, Viñales highlighted his satisfaction with KTM engineers, who, according to him, grant him the necessary value within the project.
The motorsport director of KTM, Pit Beirer, stated that they want to wait for Viñales to fully recover from his shoulder injury before evaluating his true potential in MotoGP. Beirer mentioned that negotiations slowed down upon learning that the available spot belonged to the satellite team and not the factory team.
Despite everything, Viñales expressed his pessimism about the possibility of remaining on the grid next year and indicated that his immediate focus is to fully recover and get back to his rhythm after the summer break. “I don’t know if it’s still an open door. For me, it’s hard to say anything,” he concluded, adding that he hopes to recover soon and perform at his best in the second half of the season.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
