Ferrari issue unusual statement amid rampant Fred Vasseur-Christian Horner rumours

Ferrari has declared that it has "full confidence" in team principal Fred Vasseur, amid growing speculation linking Christian Horner to the team. 

In an interview with The Times last week, Horner declared that Ferrari was the "dream job" and that it was the only team he would be prepared to join on the grid as a mere employee, and not accept a role in the ownership structure - something he has made clear he wants following his exit from Red Bull in July 2025.

Vasseur addressed the reports after the Azerbaijan GP, declaring that he had "the best job in the world", but RacingNews365 understands from well-placed sources that discussions had taken place over how a potential Vasseur departure would look at the end of the current season. 

Ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia this weekend, Ferrari took the extraordinary step of hastily arranging a news conference to address the speculation - where Vasseur received a full vote of confidence.

"In recent days, there has been increasing speculation surrounding Ferrari and particularly dedicated to its leadership," Ferrari's chief communications officer, Maria Conti said.

"Ferrari's position is clear, has not changed, and Ferrari has made its choices already, and we have confidence, full confidence, in Fred Vasseur and in his team, and we continue to do so. 

"At this time and in this particular moment, it's really important that the team remains united and cohesive, and we are focused all the energy, on the work ahead, Ferrari has always attracted extraordinary interest, and it is only natural that many professionals aspire to be part of it. 

"It is a reflection of the strength of what Ferrari really represents. So this is why we really want to avoid, and we do not intend to fuel speculation or comment on assumption coming from outside the company, and is not just related to the story in The Times of Mr. Horner, but in general there is a lot of speculation about that. 

"So again, we have confidence in Fred Vasseur and in his team, and we continue to do so. 

"And the position is clear, not just now. We have already confirmed in the past. Our focus now is on the work. We would like, of course, to be focused on the future, and this is always the Ferrari spirit and the spirit of our founder: humility and complete focus on the future. 

"We are doing that today, on Tuesday, 29th September, because we would like to avoid that in the next weekend in Malaysia being occupied only with this kind of gossip and speculation, but we would like to be focused on the race, on the performance, on the team, on Fred, and of course the leadership is taking to bring ahead the Scuderia Ferrari HP."

When then asked why CEO John Elkann and CEO Bernadetto Vigna had not made any public statements backing their team principal, Conti added that Elkann and Vigna had confidence in Vasseur and that Ferrari had "made its choices", in favour of Vassuer.