Ferrari has once again affirmed its unwavering support for team principal Frédéric Vasseur, dismissing any speculation about his future that was sparked by comments from Christian Horner. The Scuderia made it clear that it has already decided who will steer its Formula 1 programme and that Vasseur remains at the helm. Vasseur himself acknowledged after Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix that the atmosphere within the team had been "less than ideal" due to persistent and "frustrating" rumours concerning his role.
Those rumours were amplified last week when The Times published an interview with former Red Bull boss Christian Horner. In that interview Horner said that, apart from an ownership stake he is currently pursuing, Ferrari would be the only team he might consider returning to as a race‑engineer on the pit wall. In response, Ferrari organised a rapid media briefing on Tuesday morning, just before the weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, to set the record straight. A team spokesperson told reporters that the Italian manufacturer’s stance was "clear and unchanged": "Ferrari has made its choices and has full confidence in the leadership of Fred Vasseur and his team, and we will continue to support them." The spokesperson added that the Scuderia often attracts interest from high‑profile figures, noting that this is simply a reflection of Ferrari’s prestige in the sport.
"We are making this statement now to stop gossip and speculation in Malaysia and to keep the focus on the race weekend," the spokesperson said. The clarification was not only aimed at Horner’s remarks but also at a series of follow‑up stories that continued to circulate in the press. The team wanted to ensure that the narrative did not distract from the on‑track battle.
Vasseur is entering his fourth season as Ferrari’s team principal, having moved to the Scuderia from Sauber at the start of 2023. He secured a multi‑year contract extension last year, signalling the long‑term confidence the organisation placed in his leadership. When asked whether Vasseur still enjoys the full backing of Ferrari chairman John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna, the spokesperson reiterated the same message: "Ferrari’s position is clear and unchanged. Ferrari has made its choices, it has confidence in Fred Vasseur and we continue to do so." After a disappointing 2025 campaign in which Ferrari failed to win a single race and fell to fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, Vasseur has overseen a marked turnaround.
This season the team has already claimed two victories and sits second in the Constructors' standings. However, the challenge for the world title against Mercedes has waned in recent weeks, and Ferrari has not reached the podium in the last five races. In the Drivers' Championship, Lewis Hamilton currently occupies third place behind Mercedes teammates Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Hamilton’s title aspirations have been largely extinguished after a sixth‑place finish at the Italian Grand Prix in September, a race where Ferrari struggled to match its rivals. In Baku, Charles Leclerc finished fourth while Hamilton came home sixth, leaving Ferrari 160 points adrift of championship‑leading Mercedes. Nonetheless, a poor showing from third‑placed McLaren, which failed to score any points, allowed Ferrari to extend its lead over the reigning champions to 72 points. With eight races remaining, Ferrari aims to preserve its current championship positions.
Hamilton has insisted that a top‑three finish in the Drivers' standings would still represent a "huge achievement" given the difficulties the team faced last season. The 2026 season sees Formula 1 returning to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled at the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW, with flexible subscription options.
Overall, Ferrari’s message is unequivocal: the team stands firmly behind Frédéric Vasseur, dismisses external speculation, and will continue to focus on delivering performance on the track as the championship draws toward its climax.