Fred Vasseur was reportedly only Ferrari chairman John Elkann’s third option when the team searched for a replacement for Mattia Binotto, a detail that has returned to prominence as pressure builds around the Frenchman’s future at Maranello.
Ferrari’s lack of a genuine Formula 1 championship challenge this season has intensified scrutiny of Vasseur, while Christian Horner’s renewed openness towards a possible Ferrari role has added another layer to the debate. Questions are increasingly being asked about who will lead the Scuderia into 2027.
Fred Vasseur reportedly ranked behind Christian Horner and Andreas Seidl
Charles Leclerc played an important part in supporting Vasseur’s appointment when Ferrari needed a successor to Mattia Binotto. The Monegasque already knew Vasseur from their previous time together at Sauber and favoured his arrival at Maranello. Charles Leclerc’s relationship with Ferrari therefore provided Vasseur with an influential supporter during the transition.
However, an archived report from Corriere della Sera indicated that Vasseur was not John Elkann’s preferred candidate. According to that account, Ferrari first attempted to recruit Christian Horner, who was still leading Red Bull at the time.
Andreas Seidl was also reportedly higher on Elkann’s list. The former McLaren team principal subsequently joined Audi before later being dismissed, but Ferrari ultimately moved for Vasseur after the other possibilities did not materialise.
That history has become more significant now because Horner has once again positioned himself as interested in Ferrari. With Vasseur already under pressure, the fact that Elkann reportedly preferred the former Red Bull chief during Ferrari’s previous recruitment process inevitably adds another dimension to the current speculation.
Christian Horner among possible alternatives to Fred Vasseur
Horner is currently one of the most prominent names being discussed in connection with Ferrari should the team decide to make a change. His arrival, however, could create a complicated dynamic given the intense Formula 1 rivalry that previously existed between Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton during Hamilton’s years fighting the team for championships.
The wider leadership discussion is not limited to Horner. Jérôme D’Ambrosio, currently Ferrari’s deputy Formula 1 team principal, has also been linked with the top position. D’Ambrosio previously worked under Toto Wolff at Mercedes before joining Ferrari in 2024, making him an obvious internal option if the Scuderia preferred continuity rather than another external appointment.
Antonello Coletta represents another possible route. The head of Ferrari’s endurance racing operation has built a strong record in the World Endurance Championship and is among the names being discussed as a potential successor. However, Ferrari’s wider leadership picture remains unsettled, with several different candidates appearing in recent reports.
Fred Vasseur faces growing pressure heading towards 2027
For Vasseur, the renewed attention comes at an uncomfortable moment. The Ferrari team principal has reportedly acquired an unwanted nickname at Maranello, while questions about whether he will remain in charge heading into 2027 have become increasingly persistent.
Charles Leclerc appears to remain one of Vasseur’s more important allies inside the team, having supported his original appointment. Even so, Ferrari’s results and the absence of a sustained championship challenge have ensured that attention is moving beyond individual race weekends towards the structure of the Formula 1 operation itself.
No change has been confirmed, and Vasseur remains Ferrari team principal. What has changed is the context around him. Christian Horner is again publicly associated with the Scuderia, Jérôme D’Ambrosio offers a possible internal solution and Antonello Coletta provides another experienced Ferrari option. Against that backdrop, the report that Vasseur was only Elkann’s third choice when appointed inevitably increases the focus on what Ferrari decides to do next.
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