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 comments about the coveted "dream" job in Formula 1. Vasseur, who stepped into the role of team principal at Ferrari after leaving Sauber in 2023, has overseen a noticeable resurgence for the Scuderia this season. After a disappointing 2025 campaign, the team managed to secure race victories and climb back up the podium, yet the challenge for the world championship against Mercedes has dwindled in recent weeks, highlighted by a five‑race stretch without a single podium finish.
In a conversation with The Times that was published last week, Horner – the former Red Bull team boss – remarked that Ferrari was the only outfit he would contemplate returning to the pit‑wall for, even though he has been focusing on acquiring an ownership stake as part of any potential comeback to the sport. Horner’s remarks added fuel to the fire, prompting Vasseur to address the situation 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 performance, Vasseur admitted that the constant speculation was indeed frustrating.
"We are not working in perfect serenity," Vasseur said. "For me, and for everyone in the team, the media, the endless questions – it’s a bit of a frustrating situation. We are fighting for second place in the championship, and yet we spend a lot of time discussing these rumours.
Even in the garage, it’s not the most productive conversation we could be having. But that’s the reality, and it’s not something I can control." Vasseur then turned his attention to Horner, adding a pointed observation: "Mr Horner is looking for a job. Everybody knows it, everywhere.
What can I do? I simply try to do my best, to push the team, keep the staff motivated, focus on what we can improve today, and avoid getting tangled in gossip.
In every interview I’m asked about it perhaps twenty‑five times a day." Despite the noise, Vasseur reaffirmed his commitment to Ferrari, noting that he signed a multi‑year extension last year and that his dedication to the role is unquestionable. "The sport is my life, it’s my business," the 58‑year‑old declared. "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 switched from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season, credited his decision partly to Vasseur’s presence, recalling that they had worked together in the junior categories.
After the Baku race, Sky Sports F1 asked Hamilton whether he believed the team was on a positive trajectory under Vasseur’s leadership, to which the seven‑time champion replied affirmatively. Horner’s own history with Ferrari stretches back years, even before his dismissal from Red Bull in July 2025. The British team principal has been linked to the Italian marque on several occasions, largely because of the success he achieved at Red Bull – eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships. Sky Sports F1 analyst Jacques Villeneuve emphasized that any team considering a new principal must 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. "He brings a wealth of positive experience and success, which any team would find valuable." Villeneuve also warned that while Horner’s potential arrival might not be terrifying for those already in place, it certainly requires everyone to stay alert. "I wouldn’t say it’s scary for those currently holding positions, but you need to be on your toes." Vasseur became Ferrari’s fifth team principal in nine years when he was appointed for the start of the 2023 season, making the current campaign his fourth at the helm.
Villeneuve added that Ferrari is an especially demanding environment: "Ferrari is not an easy place to be. We have seen so many changes – two or three years, then another – because results don’t always come quickly.
You’re always on an ejectable seat and you have to be careful." As the Formula 1 calendar moves forward, the sport will head to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place at the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can watch the live coverage on Sky Sports F1, and streaming is available through NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing cancellation at any time. The upcoming races will test whether Vasseur can steer Ferrari back to consistent podium finishes and perhaps rekindle the championship ambitions that have eluded the team since their last title in 2008, all while navigating the relentless speculation surrounding both his and Horner’s futures.