Frédéric Vasseur’s position at Ferrari has become a major talking point after another disappointing Formula 1 weekend in Baku, with several newspapers examining the French team principal’s future and the possibility of Christian Horner entering the picture. However, the reports do not point in the same direction: while some see Christian Horner as a genuine possibility, others believe the former Red Bull figure is effectively a diversion from what is really happening at Maranello.
The discussion has moved beyond Ferrari’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix result, which extended the team’s run without a podium to five races. Attention has instead shifted towards Frédéric Vasseur, particularly after Christian Horner publicly positioned himself as interested in Ferrari and no official or unofficial message has yet emerged from Maranello’s senior management reaffirming confidence in the Frenchman.
Corriere della Sera: Christian Horner is a “diversion”
Daniele Sparisci and Giorgio Terruzzi of Corriere della Sera believe the Christian Horner angle is more of a diversion than a concrete Ferrari operation. The British manager is reportedly attracted by the idea of working at Maranello, something also reflected in his recent comments about the possibility of joining Ferrari, but the newspaper claims he has actually set his sights on Williams ownership.
Corriere della Sera also rejected suggestions that Frédéric Vasseur has been operating with limited authority at Ferrari. “The Frenchman has obtained the freedom to act, despite terrible relations with CEO Benedetto Vigna, his main internal accuser,” the newspaper reported.
Frédéric Vasseur is nevertheless said to be under observation from Ferrari’s leadership. According to the same report, “those close to him describe him as tired and worn, to the point that he could even decide to step away voluntarily at the end of the season, wrong-footing his employers”.
Those employers are John Elkann and Benedetto Vigna, who, according to Corriere della Sera, do not yet have a clear idea about a potential successor. The newspaper identified Antonello Coletta, Massimo Rivola, Maurizio Arrivabene and Jérôme D’Ambrosio among the possible alternatives.
Daily Mail: Bernie Ecclestone and Piero Ferrari favour Christian Horner
The Daily Mail presented a more open interpretation of the Christian Horner possibility. Jonathan McEvoy reported that Bernie Ecclestone is working in favour of his longtime friend, for whom he was also a wedding witness, and that Piero Ferrari is supportive of the idea.
Relations between Christian Horner and John Elkann are also reported to be good, while Geri Halliwell would reportedly be open to moving to Maranello. However, the report also raised the question of whether an Englishman would be the right person to manage an environment described as highly political and complex.
The Daily Mail also reported health concerns involving Frédéric Vasseur, claiming that the Ferrari team principal “missed a day in Monaco because of heart problems aggravated by work-related stress”, which the newspaper suggested could further complicate the situation.
According to the same report, Christian Horner would require extensive freedom to reorganise Ferrari. Bernie Ecclestone explained what he believed would be necessary: “He should tell them: give me five years and I’ll do it my way, with total and complete freedom. If it works, I stay; otherwise, you send me away.”
Leo Turrini examines Ferrari’s possible alternatives
Leo Turrini also analysed the advantages and disadvantages of a possible Frédéric Vasseur departure in his latest article for Quotidiano Nazionale. The journalist noted that some detractors have suggested the Ferrari team principal is too close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, while also arguing that Ferrari has lost political influence in Formula 1 over time.
At the same time, Leo Turrini defended Frédéric Vasseur by highlighting the restrictions created by Ferrari’s management structure. “At Maranello, with a president like John Elkann, it is impossible to expect to be in charge without having to discuss your decisions with the ownership every day. And if the ownership has a rather vague idea of what Formula 1 means, well, Frédéric Vasseur could explain it very well.”
The wider debate comes at a difficult moment for Ferrari, with questions continuing over what the team is missing in its attempt to return to championship-winning form, an issue also recently discussed by Flavio Briatore in his assessment of Ferrari’s title challenge.
On his personal blog, Leo Turrini then listed several potential options if Ferrari were eventually to make a change. “Frédéric Vasseur? Or the self-nominated Christian Horner? Or Massimo Rivola, who I doubt has forgotten everything about Ferrari while at Aprilia? Or Antonello Coletta, the head of the WEC programme? Ah, if only we knew.”
For now, the different reports leave Ferrari’s leadership situation unresolved. Frédéric Vasseur remains the team principal, Christian Horner continues to be discussed as a possible alternative, and the names of several other experienced figures are circulating in the Italian press. What emerges most clearly is that the debate around Maranello has moved well beyond the results on track and is now focused increasingly on who will lead Ferrari’s Formula 1 project into its next phase.
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