Ferrari Formula 1 team principal Fred Vasseur has secured the unequivocal backing of driver Lewis Hamilton ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, even as fresh speculation links Red Bull’s former boss Christian Horner to the Maranello hot seat. Speaking to media outlets including RacingNews365 in Kuala Lumpur, Hamilton dismissed the rumblings as unnecessary distraction and defended Vasseur’s leadership following a season that saw the Scuderia climb to second in the constructors’ championship.
Ferrari Team Structure and Vasseur Leadership Defense
The position of the French team principal has drawn renewed scrutiny just over a year after Ferrari locked him into a new contract. Those whispers intensified when Christian Horner recently described a potential role at Ferrari as a “dream” during an interview. Horner, who is currently without a position, noted that Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1 and likely the sport’s “sleeping giant.” In response, Ferrari president John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna issued a team statement confirming their full backing for Vasseur heading into next year. The official communiqué expressed “full confidence” in the 58-year-old Vasseur, who joined the stable in 2023.
Hamilton reinforced that executive confidence on Thursday at Sepang. He emphasized that organizational stability remains the ultimate key to success in motorsport. “Structure is incredibly important, as is stability,” Hamilton stated. He described Vasseur as a “fantastic leader” and the right person to steer the team forward, noting that the outfit jumped to second in the constructors’ standings thanks to the structural changes implemented over the past year. Hamilton added that he believes Vasseur has “full support and full confidence.” He noted that while he would implement certain changes, he would not specify them, and observed that the structure is very different from that of Toto Wolff.
Hamilton further noted that the team’s rise to second place represented a “gigantic step” and a “significant advance” compared to the previous year.
Günther Steiner suggests Christian Horner remarks serve as publicity
While Ferrari management and drivers publicly support the current setup, outside observers view Horner’s public interest through a different lens. Former Haas team principal Günther Steiner suggested in the Red Flags podcast that Horner’s remarks serve primarily as publicity for his newly released book after attempts to secure a minority stake in Alpine fell flat. Steiner noted that Horner wants a return to the grid with top-level control, calling Ferrari a logical “plan B” since the Scuderia will not hand over ownership shares. Steiner claimed Horner’s “plan A” failed and that the Brit, who has stated he no longer wants to work for anyone else, sees an opportunity to enter Maranello.
Steiner also dismissed the notion of Vasseur retaining his post under Horner, stating that there is simply no operational room for both men at the top of Maranello. He remarked, “I don’t think it’s going to happen that Fred remains working there under the leadership of Christian.” Meanwhile, Vasseur himself expressed frustration over the persistent noise, admitting that the team does not operate in “perfect serenity” while managing the intense spotlight unique to the sport’s most iconic brand. Vasseur was frustrated by the commotion caused in Italy, which he felt provided more unnecessary distraction than the team already faces daily.
Hamilton points directly to mechanical limitations holding the team back
Beyond management politics, Hamilton pointed directly to the mechanical limitations holding the team back from challenging for victories. He acknowledged that Ferrari drops between four and six tenths of a second to competitors on straight-line power alone every weekend. The seven-time world champion praised engineers in the Maranello factory for working around the clock to solve the power unit deficit ahead of future campaigns.
Hamilton added that the volatile media atmosphere surrounding Ferrari creates an unequal burden compared to rival squads. He noted that when other teams commit comparable errors, they escape intense public scrutiny, whereas any misstep by motorsport’s most historic constructor is magnified tenfold. Hamilton described this atmosphere of negativity as “frustrating,” noting it was more volatile at Ferrari than at other teams on the grid that performed worse.
The team remains the most successful in Formula 1 history, though it has not seen a driver become world champion since Kimi Räikkönen in 2007.
Fred Vasseur answers directly to John Elkann and Benedetto Vigna
When did Fred Vasseur take charge at Ferrari?
Fred Vasseur officially joined the Scuderia as team principal in 2023.
What position did Ferrari achieve in the recent constructors’ championship?
Ferrari finished second in the Formula 1 constructors' championship, improving on the previous season under Vasseur's leadership.
Who comprises the executive leadership above Fred Vasseur?
In the team’s internal hierarchy, Vasseur answers directly to Ferrari executive chairman John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna.
Related reading