Fabio Quartararo admitted Yamaha's lack of competitiveness is making it difficult for him to perform at his best in MotoGP this season.
What happened?
On the Spanish Grand Prix's return to action, Yamaha ended up firmly at the bottom of the timesheets on Friday, with Quartararo finishing a distant 17th.
He finished just over a second off the pace set by Alex Marquez on the Gresini Ducati.
Why it matters for Fabio Quartararo
Quartararo's best time of 1m36.752s was 1.1s down on the lap that earned him a shock pole last year.
This gap is concerning, especially compared to his performance at the same circuit last year.
What comes next?
Quartararo suggested that he is now beginning to feel resigned to the situation, stating that the team is starting to get used to the struggles.
He denied suggestions that the conditions in Practice were worse than last year, citing Alex Marquez's benchmark of 1m35.704s as evidence.
Quartararo reiterated that Yamaha has made little progress with the current-gen M1 since he tested the bike for the first time at last year's Mugello test.
The issues go beyond a lack of outright power, with Quartararo stressing the need for a bike that turns, stops, and has a feeling on the front.
He has been asking for these improvements since September, but the team has yet to find a solution.
As the season progresses, Quartararo will continue to face challenges with Yamaha's competitiveness, making it difficult for him to perform at his best in MotoGP.