The nine-time MotoGP race winner has a contract with Yamaha that runs until the end of the 2022 season, but the relationship between Vinales and Yamaha has deteriorated in recent weeks.
The Dutch Grand Prix poleman had his worst weekend in Germany as a MotoGP rider, where he finished 21st.
This followed a slump for Vinales since his emphatic victory at the Qatar GP in March, with the Yamaha rider nowhere near the podium in subsequent races.
After his low point in Germany, Vinales hit Yamaha for what he believed to be a disrespectful approach by the brand to its problems.
Yamaha’s relationship with Vinales was not helped by the team’s decision to remove crew chief Esteban Garcia from the Catalonia GP for former Valentino Rossi ally Silvano Galbusera.
Garcia was brought in by Vinales in 2019 after his relationship with Ramon Forcada became strained, with Garcia being a longtime friend and crew chief of Vinales during his 2013 Moto3 title-winning season.
It now seems that Vinales sees no further prospects with his time at Yamaha and wants to terminate his contract at the end of the year.
Motorsport.com understands that both Vinales and Yamaha are seeking an amicable partnership, but nothing has been finalized.
Should Vinales leave Yamaha it looks like he’ll take second place at Aprilia in a shock move next season, though Motorsport.com understands nothing has been signed as of Sunday.
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Vinales’ pole in Assen allegedly came – according to the driver – on the same motorcycle that he rode at the German GP. The Spaniard claimed he made no changes to it during the Dutch TT weekend.
It remains to be seen how a potential race win on Sunday at Assen – where Vinales looked strongest since the Qatar GP – could change his mind as the Spaniard has an unpredictable character.
Should he leave Yamaha, the Japanese brand will need a replacement in 2022.
The logical option would be to promote Franco Morbidelli, the 2020 championship runner-up, to the factory squad, although that again would likely mean Petronas SRT will have to find two new drivers, with Valentino Rossi expected to step down by the end of the year.