Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Boss Breaks Silence on Christian Horner Rumour
Ferrari Formula 1 team principal, Fred Vasseur, has addressed the growing speculation surrounding a potential move to Maranello for former Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner, clarifying the real story behind Ferrari’s recent statement of support from chairman John Elkann.
In recent weeks, rumours have circulated that Horner—who was dismissed by Red Bull in July 2025 after two decades of dominance—was eyeing a swift return to Formula 1, with Ferrari said to be among his top destinations. During his time at Red Bull, Horner led the team to 14 world championships, cementing his reputation as one of the sport’s most successful team principals. His sudden availability has sparked intense speculation up and down the grid, with whispers linking him to several struggling teams seeking fresh leadership.
At the same time, Ferrari’s own season has been underwhelming. Despite high hopes following Lewis Hamilton’s arrival from Mercedes, the team has endured a difficult campaign in 2025. Ferrari currently sits third in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing McLaren by a massive 344 points. For context, the gap between the two teams was just 11 points in 2024—making Ferrari’s decline this year all the more alarming.
The lack of progress has inevitably drawn criticism toward Vasseur, who has been under pressure to deliver results since taking over as team principal in 2023. The Frenchman’s leadership has been questioned amid Ferrari’s inconsistent performances and the SF-25’s puzzling lack of pace at various circuits. Neither Hamilton nor Charles Leclerc has secured a race victory or even mounted a serious challenge for a podium so far this season—an outcome far below Ferrari’s expectations given the team’s star-studded driver lineup and strong pre-season ambitions.
With media speculation intensifying, Ferrari chairman John Elkann took the unusual step of issuing a public statement ahead of the United States Grand Prix, reaffirming the company’s confidence in Vasseur’s leadership. Many viewed the statement as a direct response to the Horner rumours, which suggested that the former Red Bull boss could replace Vasseur at the helm.
Vasseur has now explained the motivation behind Elkann’s words, revealing that the message was designed primarily to calm the growing noise around the team and not because of any internal crisis.
“For everybody, it’s good to have this kind of message,” Vasseur told reporters during the Austin race weekend. “But as we have permanent contact [with Elkann], we already had the message privately. That public statement was more for the third parties—the external audience—to stop the speculation.”
When asked whether the chairman’s public backing was personally important to him, Vasseur agreed it was helpful in allowing him and the team to refocus on racing rather than endless rumours. “Yes, it’s important because like this you stop the discussion, and you stay focused on the next race instead of replying to all these questions,” he said.
Despite Ferrari’s current challenges, sources within the paddock insist that Vasseur’s position is secure. He is expected to remain in charge for the 2026 season, guiding the Scuderia into Formula 1’s new technical era, which will feature overhauled power unit and chassis regulations. Ferrari’s long-term plan reportedly hinges on ensuring continuity and stability under Vasseur’s stewardship, as the team prepares for what could be a major reset across the grid.
While Horner’s name continues to be floated in connection with several teams—including Alpine, Aston Martin, and Haas—none of those links have developed into a concrete opportunity. Insiders suggest that the former Red Bull boss is biding his time, carefully evaluating his next move in Formula 1 after his dramatic exit from the team he helped build into a powerhouse.
Meanwhile, Vasseur remains determined to weather the storm and restore Ferrari’s competitiveness. The Frenchman has pointed to ongoing upgrades and the lessons learned from a difficult season as key to the team’s 2026 rebound. However, fans’ patience is wearing thin, especially with Hamilton still waiting for his first podium finish in red—a milestone many expected to arrive much sooner.
For now, though, Ferrari appears to be standing firmly behind Vasseur. The public backing from Elkann has drawn a line under the Horner rumours, at least temporarily, allowing the team to shift focus back to performance on track rather than politics off it.
As Formula 1 moves toward another transformative season, all eyes will be on Maranello to see whether Vasseur can deliver the resurgence Ferrari and Hamilton both desperately need—or whether the shadow of Christian Horner will continue to loom large over the team’s future.
