Frederic Vasseur has openly acknowledged that Ferrari cannot operate in a state of complete calm while rumors about his own future continue to swirl, especially after Christian Horner’s recent remarks describing a position at Ferrari as the ultimate "dream" job in Formula 1. Vasseur, who stepped into the role of team principal at Ferrari after leaving Sauber in 2023, has overseen a resurgence this season, guiding the Scuderia back to the podium after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
However, the challenge for the world championship against Mercedes has diminished in recent weeks, as the team endured a stretch of five races without a single podium finish. In a feature interview with The Times published last week, former Red Bull boss Christian Horner suggested that Ferrari was the only team he would contemplate returning to the pit wall for, even though he has been emphasizing the importance of an ownership stake in any potential comeback to the sport. Horner’s comments added fuel to the speculation surrounding Vasseur’s tenure, prompting the Frenchman to address the issue after Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Ferrari’s drivers finished fourth and sixth.
When asked whether the external chatter was affecting the team’s focus, Vasseur admitted the situation was "frustrating" and far from the ideal environment for high‑performance work. "We are not working in perfect serenity," he said.
"For me, and for everyone in the team, the media, the endless stream of questions – it’s a bit of a frustrating situation. We are fighting for second place in the championship, and at the end of the day we spend a lot of time talking about that. Even the guys in the garage are discussing it, and that is not the best conversation we can have.
But it is what it is, and it’s not in my hands." Vasseur then turned his attention to Horner, noting that the former Red Bull principal was openly looking for a new role. "Mr.
Horner is looking for a job. Everybody knows, everywhere," Vasseur said with a hint of irony.
"What can I do? I just try to do my best to push the team, to keep them motivated, to focus on what we can improve today, and not waste time on gossip. In every interview it comes up 25 times a day." Despite the swirling rumors, Vasseur’s commitment to Ferrari remains unwavering. He signed a multi‑year contract extension last year and reiterated his dedication to returning the iconic team to the pinnacle of the sport for the first time since 2008.
"The sport is my life, it’s my business," the 58‑year‑old declared. "I’m trying to do my best.
I’m here to do my job, and I have the best job in the world. We still have seven races left, and we will fight until the very last corner." Lewis Hamilton, who moved from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season, credited his decision in part to his previous working relationship with Vasseur during their time together in junior categories.
When Sky Sports F1 asked Hamilton after the Baku race whether Ferrari remained on a positive trajectory under Vasseur’s leadership, the seven‑time champion answered affirmatively, confirming his confidence in the current direction. Horner’s own history with Ferrari stretches back years, even before his dismissal from Red Bull in July 2025.
He has been periodically linked with the Scuderia due to his record of guiding Red Bull to eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships. Sky Sports F1 analyst and former world champion Jacques Villeneuve emphasized that any team considering a managerial change must take Horner’s availability seriously. "Christian Horner is someone you have to take seriously because he built the winning Red Bull team," Villeneuve told Sky Sports News in Baku. "He brings a lot of positive baggage, a history of success, so you have to weigh that carefully.
I wouldn’t say it’s scary for those currently in place, but you need to stay on your toes." Vasseur’s appointment marked the fifth time Ferrari has changed team principal in nine years, highlighting the pressure-cooker environment of the historic outfit. Villeneuve added that the role at Ferrari is notoriously precarious.
"Ferrari is not an easy place to be. We have seen so many changes—two or three years, then the next—because the results don’t always come.
So you’re always on an ejectable seat and you have to be careful." Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar will take the sport to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix set to be held at the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can watch live coverage on Sky Sports F1, and the broadcast is also available via the NOW streaming service, which offers flexible, contract‑free access. In summary, while external speculation about both Vasseur’s future and Horner’s potential move to Ferrari continues to dominate headlines, Vasseur remains focused on extracting the maximum performance from his drivers and engineering staff. He acknowledges the distraction but refuses to let it dictate the team’s strategy, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to close the gap to Mercedes and, ultimately, to challenge for the championship title.
The next seven races will be crucial in determining whether Ferrari can convert its recent improvements into a sustained title challenge, or if the pressure will once again lead to another leadership shake‑up at the legendary Italian team.