Ferrari have once again affirmed their "full confidence" in team principal Frederic Vasseur, dismissing the swirling speculation about his future that was sparked by former Red Bull boss Christian Horner hinting at an interest in the role. The Italian racing giant made it clear that it has "made its choices" regarding the leadership of its Formula One operation and will continue to back Vasseur without hesitation. Vasseur himself admitted after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last Saturday that the team was "not working in perfect serenity" due to the persistent and "frustrating" rumours surrounding his position at the Scuderia.
Those rumors were amplified last week when Horner, in an interview with The Times, said that Ferrari was the only team he would consider returning to the pit wall for, even though he is currently focused on securing an ownership stake before any comeback to the sport. In an unusual move, Ferrari organised a hastily arranged media briefing on Tuesday morning, just before the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in Malaysia, to address the growing chatter. A Ferrari spokeswoman stated unequivocally that the company maintains full confidence in Vasseur and his staff to continue steering the F1 programme.
"Ferrari's position is clear and unchanged," the spokesperson said. "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." She added that the attention the team receives is a testament to what Ferrari represents in the sport. "Ferrari has always attracted interest; it's a reflection of the brand's heritage and prestige.
We are speaking out today to stop gossip and speculation in Malaysia and to keep the focus on the upcoming race weekend." The spokesperson clarified that the statement was a response not only to Horner's comments in The Times but also to a series of subsequent stories that have kept the speculation alive. "We are addressing not only the piece with Mr.
Horner but also the follow‑up articles that have been increasing, not dying down," she said. Vasseur is now entering his fourth season at the helm of the Scuderia, having joined from Sauber at the start of 2023 and signing a multi‑year contract extension last year.
When asked whether he still enjoys the full backing of Ferrari chairman John Elkann and chief executive Benedetto Vigna, and whether he will remain in his role for the duration of his contract, the spokesperson repeated 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 race and fell to fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, Vasseur has overseen a resurgence. This season the team has already secured two victories and sits second in the Constructors' standings.
However, the challenge for the world title against Mercedes has waned in recent months, and Ferrari have not reached the podium in the last five races. In the Drivers' Championship, Lewis Hamilton currently occupies third place, trailing Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Hamilton's title hopes were effectively ended after the Italian Grand Prix in September, where he finished sixth, leaving him well out of contention. At the Baku race, Charles Leclerc finished fourth while Hamilton came home sixth, leaving Ferrari 160 points behind the championship‑leading Mercedes. Nonetheless, because McLaren, who sit third, failed to score any points, Ferrari's gap to the reigning champions narrowed to 72 points.
With eight races remaining in the calendar, Ferrari's primary objective is to preserve their current championship positions. Hamilton has recently emphasized that a top‑three finish in the Drivers' standings would still be a "huge achievement" for the team, given the difficulties they faced last season. The 2026 season marks Formula 1's return to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place at the Sepang International Circuit.
Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW, offering a flexible, contract‑free viewing option. In summary, Ferrari has unequivocally reaffirmed its support for Frederic Vasseur, rejecting any notion that the speculation sparked by Horner's comments will affect the team's direction.
The Scuderia aims to capitalize on its recent race wins, maintain its second‑place standing in the Constructors' Championship, and finish the season strongly, despite the recent dip in podium finishes. The upcoming race in Malaysia will be another opportunity for the team to demonstrate its resilience and commitment to the goals set out at the start of the year.