Ferrari has once again affirmed its unwavering confidence in team principal Frederic Vasseur, dismissing the swirl of speculation that has surrounded his future after former Red Bull boss Christian Horner hinted he might be interested in the role. The Italian racing giant made it clear that its decisions regarding the leadership of the Scuderia are final and that Vasseur remains at the helm. Vasseur himself acknowledged after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last Saturday that the team was operating "under less than perfect serenity" due to the relentless and "frustrating" rumours about his position. Those whispers intensified when Horner, in an interview with The Times, suggested that Ferrari was the only team he would consider returning to as a pit‑wall figure, even though he is currently focused on acquiring an ownership stake rather than a full‑time managerial role.
In a somewhat unusual move, Ferrari convened a hastily organised media briefing on Tuesday morning, just before the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in Malaysia, to address the growing chatter. A spokesperson for the marque said unequivocally that the company retains full faith in Vasseur and his staff, and that the organization will continue to back them without hesitation. "Ferrari's position is clear and unchanged," the spokesperson declared. "Ferrari has made its choices and has full confidence in the leadership of Fred Vasseur and his team, and we will continue to do so.
Ferrari has always attracted interest; it is a reflection of what Ferrari represents. We are stating this now to curb gossip and speculation in Malaysia and to keep the focus on the upcoming race weekend." The statement was framed as a direct response not only to Horner's comments in The Times but also to a series of subsequent articles that have kept the story alive. The team wanted to put an end to the narrative that Vasseur's tenure might be in jeopardy.
Vasseur is now entering his fourth season as Ferrari's team principal, having taken the job from Sauber at the start of 2023. He secured a multi‑year contract extension last year, which underlines the long‑term nature of his appointment.
When asked whether he 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." The context of this reassurance is important.
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 notable resurgence. This season the team has claimed two victories and currently sits second in the Constructors' standings, narrowing the gap to the dominant Mercedes squad. Nevertheless, the championship fight has lost some of its momentum in recent weeks.
Ferrari have not reached the podium in the last five races, and their challenge to Mercedes has become less convincing. In the Drivers' Championship, Lewis Hamilton sits third behind Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, with his title aspirations all but extinguished after a sixth‑place finish at the Italian Grand Prix in September. In Baku, Charles Leclerc finished fourth while Hamilton came home sixth, leaving Ferrari 160 points adrift of championship leaders Mercedes.
However, a misfortune for third‑placed McLaren, which failed to score any points, allowed Ferrari to extend their lead over the reigning champions to 72 points, illustrating the volatile nature of the points battle. Looking ahead, Ferrari have eight races remaining to consolidate or improve their position. Hamilton has recently remarked that a top‑three finish in the Drivers' Championship would still be a "huge achievement" for the team, given the difficulties they endured last season.
The upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix, held at the Sepang International Circuit, marks Formula 1's return to Malaysia for the first time since 2017. Fans can watch the live action on Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time. In summary, Ferrari's leadership is sending a clear message: despite external speculation and media buzz, the organization stands firmly behind Frederic Vasseur.
The team aims to focus on performance on the track, leveraging the momentum of early‑season victories while addressing the recent dip in podium finishes. With a solid contract in place and the backing of the Scuderia's top executives, Vasseur is set to steer Ferrari through the remainder of the season, aiming to challenge Mercedes and reclaim the glory that the iconic red cars are synonymous with.