Yamaha has announced that it has parted company from Maverick Vinales with immediate effect, bringing their partnership to a premature conclusion.
Vinales has been subject to an internal investigation by Yamaha over the past two weeks following an incident at the end of the Styrian contest in which a frustrated Vinales over-revved his M1 on several occasions in the closing laps.
It led the marque to believe he was purposefully trying to damage his engine.
That incident came weeks after the parties revealed that they would separate at the end of the current campaign, having originally been contracted through the end of 2022.
Yamaha suspended Vinales from the Austrian Grand Prix while investigating the matter further while the Spaniard attended the grand prix, dressed in team clothing, and apologised for his actions.
But on Friday it was confirmed that the relationship has now been terminated, leaving Aprilia-bound Vinales without a ride for the rest of 2021.
“In Assen Yamaha and Viñales already announced the mutual decision to cut short their original 2021-2022 programme and to finish it at the end of 2021,” said Yamaha MotoGP boss Lin Jarvis.
“A commitment was made by both rider and team to continue to the end of the current season, with the team guaranteeing its full support and the rider giving his maximum efforts so that we could finish the project ‘in style’.
“Regretfully at the Styrian GP the race did not go well or end well and consequently after deep consideration by both parties, the mutual decision was reached that it would be better for both parties if we end the partnership earlier.
“The early separation will release the rider to be free to follow his chosen future direction and will also permit the team to focus its efforts on the remaining races of the 2021 season with a replacement rider – yet to be determined.
“I would like to express Yamaha’s sincere gratitude to Maverick. Yamaha will continue to cherish the good memories and appreciate the work both parties put into the 4.5 years spent together that brought us 8 race victories and 24 podiums.
“We wish Maverick all the very best in his future endeavours.”
Vinales joined Yamaha for the ’17 campaign following a strong year with Suzuki, having scored his debut win at Silverstone on his way to an impressive fourth in the riders standings in only his second season in the series.
He won three of the first five races of his Yamaha tenure-including the opening two-on his way to third overall, though this would ultimately prove to be his peak with the marque as he racked up another five wins across the following three-and-a-half seasons with another third overall in the standings in ’19 matching his best ever.
