Maverick Vinales reportedly advised Yamaha against making any changes to the bike during his unsuccessful championship season.

Maverick Vinales has indicated that he believes he could have claimed the MotoGP world championship in 2017 with Yamaha, had they not altered the 2016 M1 model he first tested.

Following a little more than a season with Suzuki, Vinales secured a two-year contract to join the factory Yamaha team for his third year in the top tier of motorcycle racing in 2017.

In the 2016 Valencia test, Vinales emerged as the fastest rider aboard that year's M1, going on to secure victories in the first two races of 2017. He later clinched a third win at the French Grand Prix, where he faced off against his teammate Valentino Rossi in a thrilling contest.

The Spaniard held a 17-point lead in the standings at that point, but Vinales wouldn't secure another victory until the 2018 Australian GP, resulting in him dropping to third place in the 2017 standings.

Vinales stayed with Yamaha until the middle of 2021, at which point his rapport with the company deteriorated beyond repair. He was promptly dismissed after it was discovered that he had intentionally over-revved the engine of his M1 during the Styrian GP.

In a DAZN documentary featuring his journey, Vinales expressed his belief that he had the potential to clinch the championship with the M1 he tested in late 2016, urging Yamaha to “leave it as it is” during the winter months.