BBC Formula 1 correspondent Andrew Benson has explained the background to Frédéric Vasseur’s unusual remark about his assistant after the Ferrari team principal was questioned about Christian Horner and the possibility of the former Red Bull boss joining the Maranello team.
After Christian Horner effectively put himself forward for a possible Ferrari role, Frédéric Vasseur could hardly have been surprised to face a direct question on the subject following the race.
Frédéric Vasseur gives a pointed response
Frédéric Vasseur had three days to prepare an effective answer, but when responding to a question from journalists at The Race, the Ferrari team principal appeared somewhat irritated by the subject.
“Mr Horner is looking for a job and everybody knows it, everywhere. But what can I do?” Frédéric Vasseur said. Asked whether he could potentially coexist with Christian Horner within the same team, the Frenchman responded cryptically: “You have to ask my assistant…”
It was an unusual remark whose meaning was difficult to understand immediately, but BBC Formula 1 correspondent Andrew Benson subsequently offered an interpretation. The wider discussion surrounding Christian Horner and Ferrari has also reached Lewis Hamilton, who recently gave a one-word response when asked about Christian Horner potentially replacing Frédéric Vasseur.
BBC links the remark to the 2024 Red Bull controversy
Writing for the BBC, Andrew Benson explained the possible meaning behind the comment: “The remark appears to refer to the circumstances that led to Horner’s departure from Red Bull in July 2025.”
The reference to an assistant therefore appears far from accidental. The Red Bull employee who made allegations against Christian Horner at the beginning of 2024 had worked as his personal assistant.
Frédéric Vasseur’s response can therefore be interpreted as a pointed reference to the controversy involving allegations of inappropriate, coercive and controlling behaviour. Christian Horner consistently denied wrongdoing, while the original complaint against him was dismissed following an internal investigation and a subsequent appeal was also rejected.
The employee later pursued an employment tribunal case in Britain. Following lengthy negotiations between the parties, the proceedings were reportedly discontinued towards the end of 2025.
Separate reports have also attempted to quantify Christian Horner’s financial settlement following the end of his long spell at Red Bull, with the Italian report putting the figure at approximately €60 million.
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