Maverick Vinales has drawn parallels between his current KTM contract dispute and the breakdown in his previous relationship with Yamaha, arguing that MotoGP teams have repeatedly pushed him to the edge.
The 10-time grand prix winner has made no secret about his frustration with the way KTM has handled his contract situation, publicly pinning the responsibility on the Austrian manufacturer for jeopardising his future in MotoGP.
Ahead of this weekend's German Grand Prix, Vinales claimed that he had signed a contract extension for 2027, only to be told the deal was no longer valid. Speaking after Friday practice at Sachsenring, the Spaniard said the latest episode had brought back memories of his turbulent split with Yamaha in 2021.
Vinales was fired by Yamaha midway through that season after he allegedly tried to damage his bike's engine at the Styrian Grand Prix. He had already agreed to leave the team a year before the expiry of his contract prior to the infamous Red Bull Ring incident.
"What I said on Thursday is basically the truth of the situation and what happened," he said. "So this is the truth and I don't want to hide the truth because it is the same as it happened in Yamaha. A lot of people start to say that I have mental problems. No, I don't have anything.