Ferrari have once again affirmed their "full confidence" in team principal Frédéric Vasseur, pushing back against recent speculation about his future that was sparked by comments from Christian Horner. The Scuderia made it clear that it has "made its choices" regarding the leadership of its Formula 1 operation and will continue to back Vasseur. Vasseur himself acknowledged after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last Saturday that the team was not operating "in perfect serenity" because of the persistent and "frustrating" rumours surrounding his position at the Scuderia. 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 Ferrari was the only team he would consider returning to the pit‑wall for, provided he did not have to take an ownership stake – a condition he has been emphasizing for any potential comeback to the sport. In an unusual move, Ferrari arranged a media briefing on Tuesday morning, just before the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, to address the growing speculation.
A Ferrari spokesperson said the organisation’s stance remains unchanged and that the team has "full confidence in the leadership of Fred Vasseur and his team and we will continue to do so." The spokesperson added that the constant interest in Ferrari is simply a reflection of the brand’s stature in the sport, and that the statement was intended to "avoid gossip and speculation in Malaysia and focus on the weekend." The spokesperson also noted that the briefing was a response not only to Horner’s remarks in The Times but also to a series of subsequent stories that have kept the narrative alive. Vasseur is now in his fourth season at the helm, having joined Ferrari from Sauber at the start of 2023. He secured a multi‑year contract extension last year, which should keep him in charge for the foreseeable future.
When asked whether Vasseur still enjoys the full backing of Ferrari chairman John Elkann and chief executive 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 behind this reaffirmation is the dramatic turnaround the team has experienced this year.
After a disappointing 2025 campaign in which Ferrari failed to win a race and slipped to fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, Vasseur has steered the squad back to winning form. The Scuderia has already claimed two victories this season and currently sits second in the Constructors' standings, narrowing the gap to the leaders, Mercedes. Nevertheless, the championship fight has lost some of its momentum in recent months.
Ferrari have not reached the podium in the last five races, and their challenge to Mercedes has faded. In the Drivers' Championship, Lewis Hamilton sits third behind Mercedes teammates Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Hamilton’s title hopes were effectively ended after the Italian Grand Prix in September, where he finished sixth while driving for Ferrari. In Baku, Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Hamilton sixth, leaving Ferrari 160 points behind the championship leaders.
However, a poor showing from third‑placed McLaren, which failed to score any points, allowed Ferrari to extend their advantage over the reigning champions to 72 points. With eight races remaining, the team aims to preserve its current standing, while Hamilton has insisted that a top‑three finish in the Drivers' Championship would still be a "huge achievement" given the difficulties the team faced last season. The upcoming race in Malaysia marks the first time Formula 1 has visited the Sepang International Circuit since 2017.
The event, officially titled the Bahrain Grand Prix, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW. Ferrari’s clear message ahead of the weekend is that they intend to keep the focus on performance on the track rather than off‑track speculation, trusting Vasseur to lead the team through the final stretch of the season.
In summary, Ferrari has publicly reiterated its unwavering support for Frédéric Vasseur, dismissing any rumours sparked by Christian Horner’s comments. The team’s recent resurgence, highlighted by two race wins and a strong position in the Constructors' Championship, underscores the confidence the organisation has in its current leadership. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how Ferrari manages the remaining races and whether they can close the gap to Mercedes while maintaining the stability and unity that the Scuderia’s management now emphasizes.