Frederic Vasseur has openly acknowledged that Ferrari cannot operate in a state of absolute calm while constant speculation surrounds his future, a situation that intensified after Christian Horner’s comments about the Formula 1 "dream" job at the Scuderia. Vasseur, who stepped into the role of team principal at Ferrari after leaving Sauber in 2023, has overseen a revival that saw the team return to the podium this season following a disappointing 2025 campaign. However, the championship fight with Mercedes has lost momentum in recent weeks, as Ferrari endured a stretch of five races without a single podium finish. In a recent interview with The Times, Horner—who previously served as Red Bull’s team principal—stated that Ferrari would be the only outfit he would consider returning to the pit wall for, even though he is currently focused on securing an ownership stake before contemplating any comeback to the sport.
The comment sparked a wave of media attention and speculation about whether Horner might be eyeing a move to the iconic Italian team. Following Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Ferrari’s drivers finished fourth and sixth, Vasseur was asked whether the external chatter was affecting the team’s performance. He admitted that the constant noise was frustrating, noting that it was far from the "perfect serenity" he would like to enjoy in his day-to-day work. "We are not working in perfect serenity," Vasseur said.
"For me, and for everyone in the team, the media, the endless questions—about fifty percent of everything we hear—creates a rather frustrating environment. We are battling for second place in the championship, and while we all talk about that, the garage conversations are not the most productive ones we could be having. But that’s the reality, and it’s beyond my control." When pressed about Horner’s public musings, Vasseur responded with a measured tone, acknowledging the former Red Bull boss’s reputation while steering the conversation back to his own priorities. "Mr.
Horner is looking for a job—everybody knows that, everywhere," Vasseur remarked. "What can I do? I simply try to give the team my best, keep them motivated, focus on what we can improve today, and avoid getting tangled in gossip. In every interview, the question comes up repeatedly, perhaps twenty‑five times a day." Vasseur’s commitment to Ferrari was reaffirmed last year when he signed a multi‑year contract extension, underscoring his determination to bring the Scuderia back to the top of the sport for the first time since its 2008 championship triumph.
The 58‑year‑old emphasized his personal dedication to the role. "The sport is my life, it’s my business," he said. "I’m doing everything I can. I have the best job in the world, and I’m here to do my job.
We still have seven races left, and we will fight until the very last corner." Lewis Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari from Mercedes in 2025, credited his prior working relationship with Vasseur in the junior categories as a key factor in his decision to join the Italian team. After the Baku race, Sky Sports F1 asked Hamilton whether he believed Ferrari was still heading in the right direction under Vasseur’s leadership, to which the seven‑time champion responded affirmatively. Even before his dismissal from Red Bull in July 2025, Horner had been periodically linked with Ferrari due to his record of guiding the team to eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships during his tenure at Red Bull.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve highlighted that any team considering a managerial change would need to take Horner’s availability seriously. "Christian Horner is someone you have to consider seriously because he built the winning Red Bull team," the 1997 world champion explained to Sky Sports News in Baku.
"He brings a wealth of positive experience and success, so any club would have to weigh that carefully." Villeneuve also noted that while Horner’s presence might not be frightening for those already in place, it does demand vigilance. "I wouldn’t say it’s scary for those who are already there, but you have to stay on your toes," he added. Vasseur became the fifth Ferrari team principal in nine years when he took the helm at the start of the 2023 season, marking his fourth year in charge for the current campaign. Villeneuve further commented on the challenging nature of working at Ferrari.
"Ferrari is not an easy place to be," he said. "We have seen so many changes—two or three years, then another—because the results don’t always come.
You’re always on an ejectable seat and you have to be careful." Looking ahead, Formula 1 is set to travel to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled at the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can watch the live coverage on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW, offering a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime service. Overall, Vasseur’s message is clear: despite the swirling rumors and external pressures, his focus remains on extracting the maximum performance from the Ferrari package, keeping the team motivated, and pursuing every opportunity to climb the championship ladder. While the speculation surrounding Horner’s potential move adds an extra layer of intrigue, Vasseur insists that his priority is to keep Ferrari competitive and to fight for every point until the season’s final race.