Earlier this week, Ferrari shut down rumors surrounding team principal Fred Vasseur possibly being replaced by former Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner. This follows after an interview with The Times published last week supposedly alluded to Horner’s Formula 1 comeback by assuming leadership of the sport’s oldest team.
Horner stated in the interview: “Would I consider Ferrari? I mean, Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1. It’s the dream. And arguably it’s the sleeping giant of Formula 1.” Prior to his ousting in 2025, Horner had led Red Bull Racing for 20 years. His leadership saw the team clinch six constructors’ titles and eight drivers’ championships.
Ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place in Malaysia this weekend, Ferrari head of communications Maria Conti told media in a virtual press conference: “We have confidence—full confidence—in Fred Vasseur and in his team, and we continue to do so.” She added that the team hopes to avoid further gossip heading into the race weekend.
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Vasseur, who joined Ferrari in 2023, was instrumental in recruiting Lewis Hamilton to race alongside Charles Leclerc. Reuters reports that he has expressed frustration at the circulating rumors, saying “For me, firstly, but for everybody in the team, for the media, for 50% of the questions [to be] about this, I think it’s a bit of a frustrating situation.”
“Mr. Horner is looking for a job—that everybody knows—everywhere,” Vasseur added. Horner was previously linked to possible leadership roles in Alpine and Aston Martin. He concludes: “But what can I do? Just try to do my best to push the team, to rise them to be motivated, focus on what is better today.”
Ferrari currently ranks second in the constructors’ championship behind frontrunner Mercedes by 160 points, and ahead of reigning champion McLaren by 72 points. Despite being a consistent competitor around the front of the grid, the Italian team has not won a championship since its constructors’ title in 2008.
