Fred Vasseur under pressure at Ferrari - the Christian Horner rumours explained

Christian Horner's interview with The Times during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend caused a stir in the Baku paddock, reigniting speculation over Fred Vasseur's long-term future as team principal at Ferrari.

Ferrari has shown clear improvement on the dismal form of 2025, but the SF-26 remains hamstrung by a power unit deficit that neither of its two permitted upgrades this season has managed to fix.

On the straights, the car cannot live with the Mercedes engine and also trails the Red Bull-Ford unit. The cornering advantage Ferrari held before the summer break has also eroded, with McLaren steadily closing that gap in recent rounds.

Vasseur has apparently been under mounting pressure for some time, particularly from the Italian media, which has closely tracked the Scuderia's struggles throughout the campaign.

The season is increasingly being viewed as a missed opportunity, even if the chassis and aerodynamic package are regarded as fundamentally sound.

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Ferrari's options

Against that technical backdrop, the idea of an amicable parting to be agreed by both sides has been gaining traction in recent weeks.

That scenario once looked highly unlikely given the absence of a credible successor. It now appears to be a more serious possibility.

According to reports, Ferrari chairman John Elkann has again sounded out Antonello Coletta, currently in charge of Maranello's World Endurance Championship programme, for the role currently held by Vasseur, despite receiving a negative response on previous occasions.

Another internal option has reportedly been discussed: promoting Jérôme d'Ambrosio, the team's current deputy team principal. D'Ambrosio belongs to the inner circle of figures Vasseur himself brought to Maranello, which could make for a smoother handover of leadership.

Such a move could conceivably carry Vasseur's own backing, allowing for a seamless transition during the 2027 season. These reports may amount to little more than a 'Plan B', to be activated only if Vasseur himself opts to end his contract early following last year's renewal.

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The Horner factor

And then there is Horner, an intriguing name.

But, as things stand, that appears destined to remain speculation, given the seemingly fierce resistance to the Briton within Ferrari's ranks.

The Times interview has landed at a moment when Ferrari appears to be genuinely assessing what has been achieved in Vasseur's fourth year in charge, even if that process has not yet produced a decision to make a change.

Additional intrigue has been sparked by a social media post from Horner, who is in Naples, apparently supporting the efforts of the British team in the Louis Vuitton Cup, a precursor to the America's Cup. Horner shared a photo taken from his hotel balcony facing Castel dell'Ovo.

It was an image which has since triggered intense online speculation over potential, although entirely unconfirmed, talks with Elkann, who is chairman of Stellantis, a partner of the Luna Rossa sailing team through Alfa Romeo.

Coincidence? Or no smoke without fire?