Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has expressed significant frustration regarding comments made by former Red Bull boss Christian Horner, describing the latter’s public interest in joining the Scuderia as a disruptive influence. Following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Vasseur noted that the constant media speculation stemming from Horner’s remarks has hindered the team’s focus as they contend for third place in the championship. Vasseur outlined his frustration with Horner following Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix – at which Charles Leclerc finished fourth and his Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton was sixth. And at the end of the day, we are all speaking a lot about this, and even for the guys in the garage, to discuss about this, it’s the best discussion that we can have, we are fighting for P3 [third place] in the championship. To rise them to be motivated, focus on what is better today, just try to do my best to push the team.
Horner, who was dismissed as Red Bull team principal in July 2025, recently suggested in an interview with The Times that Ferrari would be the only Formula 1 team he would consider working for without a shareholding, famously calling the Italian outfit “the dream.” Vasseur rejected the notion that he was joking when he previously called Horner a distraction, emphasizing his sincerity on the matter. He said: “We are not working in the perfect serenity.
Background and Professional Outlook
- Vasseur on Horner’s job search: “Mr Horner is looking for a job – that everybody knows – everywhere. But what can I do?”
- Vasseur’s response to working with Horner: “This you have to ask my assistant.”
- Vasseur’s commitment: “Motorsport is my life, it’s my business.”
The comment regarding his assistant is widely seen as an allusion to the controversy surrounding Horner’s exit from Red Bull. Horner was fired by the team following a period of intense instability that included accusations of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behavior made by a female employee. Although Red Bull dismissed these allegations after two internal investigations, the situation led to the departure of several key figures, including chief technical officer Adrian Newey, and a subsequent performance decline. The allegation became public in February 2024 but the accusations were dismissed by Red Bull following two internal investigations.
Red Bull never formally explained the reasoning behind Horner’s departure, though settlements between the parties were reportedly valued at 60 million euros (approximately £51.5 million). For Ferrari, the current off-track noise arrives at a difficult time as they grapple with technical limitations. Despite entering the season with high aspirations following updates to their chassis and engine architecture, the team has struggled with power output compared to rivals like Mercedes and Red Bull.
Vasseur noted that the performance deficit was particularly evident on the long, high-speed straights of the Baku circuit. Reflecting on the weekend, the team principal acknowledged that qualifying on the front row was unexpected given their engine struggles, but the race confirmed their pace disadvantage. “With the situation that we are in the engine, we are losing one position per lap, and then we lose the path of the race,” he explained. For me, first, but for everybody in the team, for the media, for 50% of the questions [to be] about this, it’s a bit of a frustrating situation.
Ferrari has faced a prolonged championship drought, with their last world title dating back to 2008. While they often produce cars that excel in cornering, they have struggled to maintain a fully competitive package throughout a season. Despite these challenges and the mounting media pressure, Vasseur remains determined to see out the remainder of the campaign. “We have still seven races to go, and I will push until the last corner,” he concluded.
Important Details
- And replied: “I was very serious, vasseur was asked whether he was joking about Horner.
