Ferrari’s ancient guillotine: Maranello’s cycle of leadership changes
Rumors from Germany suggest a potential upheaval at Ferrari: if chairman John Elkann is truly considering Christian Horner, it would mark a sharp reversal after recently renewing Fred Vasseur’s contract, triggering the familiar cycle of sudden upheaval.
It is always wise to approach such news cautiously, but the speculation hints that Ferrari may indeed be contemplating Horner’s appointment. If this is true, it would indicate that Maranello has learned very little from past experiences. Despite proclamations about continuity, the “time required to build” a successful car, and “solid foundations for future victories,” the Scuderia could be returning to the same starting point: another abrupt dismissal, another guillotine swung in haste, the very process that has repeatedly disrupted Ferrari’s projects over the past fifteen years.
Critics might argue that Ferrari is underperforming, which is undeniable. Yet when Fred Vasseur’s contract was extended by John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna, the team’s performance with the SF-25 was not significantly better than in previous outings. In short, nothing had substantially changed to warrant upheaval. Perhaps the only difference is that two months ago, Horner had not finalized his departure from Red Bull in Milton Keynes.
The rumor originating from Germany, reported by the well-informed Ralf Bach of F1-Insider, is striking: Exor’s chairman may be seriously considering replacing Fred Vasseur with Christian Horner. The paradox is glaring. Only months ago, Ferrari renewed its trust in Fred Vasseur, emphasizing a medium-term plan, structured development, and long-term vision. Now, in typical Maranello fashion, the word “patience” appears to have vanished from the vocabulary.
Removing Fred Vasseur now would publicly contradict the team’s own commitments. It would suggest that Ferrari does not even believe in its technical roadmap, that every announcement and declaration of intent is merely smoke masking a lack of strategic direction. There is no doubt Horner is a proven winner, but if he is indeed the chosen one, the question arises: does Ferrari want to truly win, or is it merely seeking to refresh its image every couple of years, hoping for a stroke of luck?
At Maranello, the guillotine has always been highly efficient, perhaps too much so. It has already claimed leaders like Mattia Binotto, Maurizio Arrivabene, Stefano Domenicali, and Marco Mattiacci (for those who may not remember him), and now Vasseur is under threat. Yet the core issue remains unchanged: the absence of a coherent line, a protective internal culture capable of supporting long-term goals.
If Horner were to arrive, the message would be clear: at Ferrari, it is not about building sustainably, but about starting over. Again and again. Every time from scratch, every time with a new face to display. Revolutions are not won with the swing of a blade—they are won with consistency, the very consistency that seems absent in Maranello today. Since the days of Jean Todt, the one figure who was allowed to work and build over many years, eventually yielding the dominant era of Michael Schumacher.
Leave a Reply