Summary

Ferrari has responded directly to renewed speculation about its Formula 1 leadership, reaffirming its support for Frédéric Vasseur after Christian Horner discussed the possibility of working for the Italian team. The response makes clear that Horner’s interest has not changed Ferrari’s stated position on its team principal.

“Ferrari has made its choices already,” the team said.

Ferrari added that chairman John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna are aligned in their backing of Vasseur. Its message addressed speculation about the leadership more broadly, while also acknowledging the attention generated by Horner’s recent interview with The Times.

“We have full confidence in Fred Vasseur and in his team,” Ferrari said.

The team said it considers unity particularly important at this stage of the season and wants its energy directed toward the work ahead. It also noted that Ferrari regularly attracts interest from people across motorsport, but said it does not intend to encourage speculation based on comments made outside the company.

What did Horner say about Ferrari?

Horner, the former Red Bull team principal, described a Ferrari role as a dream opportunity in his interview with The Times. He indicated that it was the one F1 team he would consider joining without seeking an ownership stake. His remarks prompted further questions about Vasseur’s future; they did not constitute an announcement of talks or an offer from Ferrari.

Horner’s described Ferrari as a dream job. Ferrari’s response now supplies the team’s position on the speculation that followed.

Vasseur had already been asked about Horner after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He acknowledged that repeated questions about his job were affecting the atmosphere around the team.

“We are not working in perfect serenity,” Vasseur said.

The Ferrari team principal also pointed to Horner’s search for a return to F1 and expressed frustration that the discussion was becoming a distraction. That reaction came after a Baku weekend in which Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton sixth, leaving the team with questions about its pace as well as its leadership.

Ferrari’s immediate focus remains the car

Ferrari’s statement is a declaration of support for Vasseur and his current team. It does not announce a new contract or a change to the management structure. The competitive challenge remains: following Baku, Vasseur said developments for the SF-26 would arrive soon after Leclerc questioned the car’s recent rate of improvement.

That distinction matters in assessing the story. Horner has expressed interest in Ferrari, Vasseur has addressed the disruption caused by the speculation, and Ferrari has now explicitly backed its team principal. There has been no announcement that Horner will join the organisation.

Formula 1 returns from 2 to 4 October at Sepang for the Bahrain GP in Malaysia. The weekend will give Ferrari its next opportunity to assess the car’s progress on track. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover the event.

F1 today: FAQ

What time does F1 practice start at Sepang?

Friday practice begins on 2 October. FP1 starts at 05:30 BST in the UK, 10:00 IST in India and 14:30 AEST in Sydney and Melbourne. In New York and Toronto, it starts at 00:30 EDT; in Los Angeles and Vancouver, at 21:30 PDT on Thursday. FP2 begins three and a half hours later.

Is Esteban Ocon leaving Haas and retiring from F1?

Ocon will leave Haas at the end of 2026, but says he intends to remain in Formula 1. He has not announced retirement and would consider a reserve role while seeking another race seat.

What happened to Oscar Piastri at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Piastri was running near the front in Baku before a mistake during a Safety Car restart dropped him out of podium contention. He finished 14th, adding to a difficult 2026 season for the McLaren driver.

Is Christian Horner replacing Frédéric Vasseur at Ferrari?

Ferrari has announced no such change. It says it has full confidence in Vasseur and his team.