Ferrari have once again stressed their unwavering support for Frederic Vasseur as team principal, dismissing any speculation about his future that has been sparked by comments from Christian Horner. The Italian racing powerhouse made it clear that it "has made its choices" regarding the leadership of its Formula One operation, reaffirming confidence in Vasseur's stewardship.
After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last Saturday, Vasseur openly admitted that the team was "not operating in perfect serenity" due to the relentless and "frustrating" rumors surrounding his role at the Scuderia. Those whispers were amplified when Horner, in a recent interview with The Times, suggested that Ferrari would be the only team he might 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 a rather unusual move, Ferrari convened a hastily organised media briefing on Tuesday morning, just before the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. A spokesperson for the marque used the opportunity to reiterate that the company retains full confidence in Vasseur and his leadership team, and that there would be no change to that stance.
"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." The spokesperson added that the constant attention Ferrari receives is simply a reflection of the brand's global stature. "Ferrari has always attracted interest; it's a reflection of what Ferrari represents.
We are stating this now to shut down gossip and speculation in Malaysia and to keep the focus on the weekend's racing." The statement was specifically aimed at addressing not only the piece featuring Horner in The Times, but also the subsequent stories that have continued to surface, the spokesperson noted. "We are responding to the piece with Mr Horner in The Times and the subsequent stories that have been increasing, not dying down," they explained.
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, signalling the team's long‑term commitment to his vision.
When asked whether Vasseur still enjoys the full backing of Ferrari chairman John Elkann and chief executive Benedetto Vigna, and whether he will remain in his post for the remainder of his contract, 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 reaffirmation is worth noting. After a disappointing 2025 season in which Ferrari failed to win a single race and slipped to fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, Vasseur has overseen a remarkable turnaround.
This year 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 faded. In the Drivers' Championship, Lewis Hamilton sits third behind Mercedes teammates 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 the team 160 points adrift of championship leaders Mercedes. However, third‑placed McLaren failed to score any points in that race, allowing Ferrari to extend their advantage over the reigning champions to 72 points. With eight races remaining on the calendar, Ferrari are focused on consolidating their current positions.
Hamilton has recently insisted that a top‑three finish in the Drivers' Championship would still be a "huge achievement" for the team, given the difficulties they faced last season. The upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix will be held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, marking the first Formula 1 visit to the country since 2017. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW – a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time.
In summary, Ferrari have unequivocally backed Frederic Vasseur, dismissing any speculation fueled by external comments. The team is determined to keep its focus on performance on the track, aiming to build on the progress made this season and to finish the year strongly in both the Constructors' and Drivers' championships.