Ferrari has once again underscored its unwavering support for team principal Frédéric Vasseur, dismissing any doubts about his future that have been stoked by recent comments from Christian Horner. The Scuderia made it clear that it has "made its choices" regarding the leadership of its Formula One operation and that those choices remain unchanged. Vasseur himself acknowledged after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last Saturday that the atmosphere within the team was far from the "perfect serenity" he would have liked, citing the persistent and "frustrating" rumours surrounding his position. Those rumours were amplified last week when Horner, in an interview with The Times, suggested that Ferrari was the only team he would consider returning to the pit wall for, even without the ownership stake he has been pursuing as a pathway back into the sport.
In an unusual move, Ferrari convened a hastily arranged media briefing on Tuesday morning, just ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. A Ferrari spokesperson used the opportunity to reiterate the team's full confidence in Vasseur and his staff, stating unequivocally that "Ferrari's position is clear and unchanged." The spokesperson added, "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 say this today because we want to avoid gossip and speculation in Malaysia and focus on the weekend." The statement was framed as a response not only to Horner's comments but also to a series of subsequent stories that have kept the speculation alive. Vasseur is now entering his fourth season at the helm of the Scuderia, having taken over from Sauber at the start of 2023.
He secured a multi‑year contract extension last year, cementing his long‑term role within the organisation. When asked whether he still enjoys the full backing of Ferrari chairman John Elkann and chief executive Benedetto Vigna, 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." The context for this reaffirmation is the dramatic turnaround the team has experienced this year.
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 guided the squad back to winning form, delivering two victories so far and sitting second in the championship standings. However, the challenge to Mercedes for the title has waned in recent weeks, and the team has not reached the podium in any of the last five races.
In the Drivers' Championship, Lewis Hamilton currently occupies third place, trailing Mercedes teammates Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Hamilton's title hopes were effectively extinguished after the Italian Grand Prix in September, where he finished sixth while driving for Ferrari at their home race. The lack of podium finishes has added pressure on Vasseur and his engineers to close the performance gap. The most recent race in Baku saw Charles Leclerc finish fourth and Hamilton sixth, leaving Ferrari 160 points behind the championship leaders Mercedes.
Yet, because McLaren, who sit third in the standings, failed to score any points, Ferrari managed to extend their lead over the reigning champions to 72 points. With eight races remaining in the season, Ferrari's objective is to preserve their current position and, if possible, climb higher in the rankings. Hamilton has publicly stated that a top‑three finish in the Drivers' Championship would still be a "huge achievement" for Ferrari, given the difficulties they faced last season.
This sentiment reflects the broader narrative that, while the team has made significant progress, consistency remains a key challenge. The upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix marks Formula One's return to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the race taking place at the iconic Sepang International Circuit.
Fans can watch the event live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW, offering a flexible, contract‑free viewing experience. In summary, Ferrari has decisively rejected any speculation about Vasseur's future, reaffirming its confidence in his leadership despite external chatter and recent performance fluctuations.
The team aims to capitalize on its resurgence, maintain its championship standing, and finish the season on a high note, while the broader F1 community watches closely to see whether the Scuderia can sustain its momentum against a resurgent Mercedes squad.