Ferrari Back Frederic Vasseur as Team Principal Amid Christian Horner Speculation

Posted : 29 September 2026

Ferrari have publicly reaffirmed their support for Frederic Vasseur as team principal, moving to end growing speculation about his future at the Formula 1 team. The statement came after former Red Bull chief Christian Horner indicated that Ferrari would be his preferred destination for a return to F1.

Ferrari chief communications officer Maria Conti delivered the message during a hastily arranged media briefing, speaking on behalf of chairman John Elkann and chief executive Benedetto Vigna. She said the team's position had not changed and that Ferrari had already made its decision regarding Vasseur's leadership.

The public backing follows several days of discussion surrounding Vasseur's position. Horner, who left Red Bull in 2025 after almost two decades with the team, recently described Ferrari as his dream destination and said it was the F1 team he would consider joining without taking an ownership stake.

Vasseur addressed the speculation after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, admitting that the constant questions about his future had become frustrating for him and the wider Ferrari organisation. He said the attention was distracting the team from its efforts to compete for second place in the constructors' championship.

Ferrari's intervention comes during a challenging 2026 campaign. The team currently occupies second place in the constructors' standings, but has failed to finish on the podium in its last five races. Its title challenge has also faded as Mercedes has established a significant advantage.

The 2026 season introduced major changes to Formula 1's technical regulations, and Ferrari entered the year with ambitions of challenging for championships. While its chassis has shown competitive pace, the team has struggled to match Mercedes' power-unit performance, limiting its ability to consistently fight at the front.

Vasseur joined Ferrari in January 2023 after replacing Mattia Binotto. He signed a new multi-year contract with the Scuderia in 2025, although Ferrari did not disclose its exact duration. The team's latest statement now makes clear that it intends to continue with Vasseur and his current leadership group.

Lewis Hamilton has also expressed confidence in the direction under Vasseur, while Ferrari's management has called for unity and concentration on the work ahead. The team said it wanted to put the leadership speculation aside and focus on its upcoming races.

Ferrari Back Frederic Vasseur as Team Principal Amid Christian Horner Speculation

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