Johnny Herbert believes “Ferrari’s first priority should be Christian Horner”. Johnny Herbert believes Ferrari should target Christian Horner as their top priority.

The ex-Red Bull boss is on the market

Red Bull recently announced that their relationship with Christian Horner has officially ended, leaving the British manager free to join another team. Horner could be operational with a new team before the summer of 2026, following a relatively short gardening leave, considering his experience and pedigree.

Horner has several opportunities and scenarios to consider, but according to former F1 driver Johnny Herbert, the ex-Red Bull team principal should be a top target for a Ferrari looking to strengthen its leadership.

Herbert’s take on Ferrari’s priorities

“Ferrari’s main objective must be Horner,” Johnny Herbert told BettingLounge. “Drivers are not the issue at all; the car lacks speed. They still haven’t managed to attract the people needed to build a car that is truly competitive on track. When Newey left McLaren, Christian Horner convinced him to join Red Bull and created an environment where Adrian Newey could thrive. When you put Newey in those conditions, you get the best out of him. That’s exactly what Ferrari has not yet managed to achieve. They lack a leader, and the management must be able to attract the right person and then give them the freedom to do what they want. I know Fred Vasseur recently signed a new contract, but if things go poorly next year, something will have to be done.”

According to recent reports from Autosprint and Corriere dello Sport, Fred Vasseur has signed a three-year extension with Ferrari, keeping him at the team until 2028.