Christian Horner’s interview with The Times has inevitably generated considerable attention and increased the pressure surrounding Ferrari on the eve of the Baku race. The former Red Bull team principal openly discussed Ferrari and indicated that he would set aside his ambitions to hold an equity stake in a Formula 1 team for the opportunity to join the Scuderia, fuelling renewed speculation over a possible future at Maranello.
There has been no official comment from Ferrari, which rarely responds publicly to matters of this kind. However, Christian Horner’s intervention has generated considerable discussion and once again placed Fred Vasseur under the spotlight.
Ferrari between Fred Vasseur and Christian Horner?
The timing has inevitably intensified the discussion around Ferrari, with the comments arriving just before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and against the backdrop of a crucial Baku weekend for the team.
Giorgio Terruzzi: “No contact underway”
In his analysis of Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying for Corriere della Sera, Giorgio Terruzzi stressed that “the atmosphere around Ferrari remains tense” and that Christian Horner’s words “caught everyone off guard”.
Giorgio Terruzzi explained: “A clear message addressed to John Elkann, an old admirer of his. But also a statement that was perhaps a little too explicit and could be aimed at prompting contact that is not currently taking place.”
Fred Vasseur’s position, however, remains a subject of discussion. Giorgio Terruzzi pointed out that the Ferrari team principal has a contract “until the end of 2027, and breaking the agreement would cost a lot”.
Leo Turrini: “Fred Vasseur’s position is hanging in the balance”
Writing for Quotidiano Sportivo, Leo Turrini went straight to the point: “When Klopp offered to coach the German national team, those responsible immediately sent him the contract to sign. Because Klopp has a history of winning in football. So what do you do with Chris Horner, who is suffering away from F1 and therefore offers himself, quite literally, to Ferrari?”
The Emilia-Romagna journalist then stressed that Fred Vasseur’s position “is hanging in the balance (a euphemism)” and, after listing Christian Horner’s achievements during his time at Red Bull, concluded: “Let’s just say the idea of Horner dressed in red is intriguing…”
Fulvio Solms: “The two sides are not in contact”
Fulvio Solms of Corriere dello Sport also interpreted Christian Horner’s move as an attempt to reopen a dialogue that had also existed in the recent past.
“This statement is a clear sign of weakness and demonstrates that the two sides are not in contact, they are not talking,” the Rome-based newspaper argued, before adding: “If there were an active dialogue, Horner would have remained invisible and silent.”
In 2025, Ferrari issued a clear message intended to stop speculation reported by Bild. For now, however, there has been no denial. “In F1, you can always say never say never,” the report concluded.
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