Vasseur Critiques Horner as a Distraction for Ferrari

Formula 1: Ferrari's Frederic Vasseur expressed that Christian Horner is proving to be a distraction, stating that Horner was "looking for a job." Horner, who was dismissed as Red Bull team principal in July 2025, used an interview with the Times this week to claim that Ferrari was the only Formula 1 team he would work for without being given a shareholding, calling it "the dream."

After Saturday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Charles Leclerc finished fourth and his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton was sixth, Vasseur shared his frustration regarding Horner. He emphasized that the team's focus was being diluted by the media attention on Horner's comments. "We are not working in perfect serenity," he said. "For me, first, but for everybody in the team, for the media, for 50% of the questions to be about this, it’s a bit of a frustrating situation. We are fighting for P3 [third place] in the championship, and at the end of the day, we are all speaking a lot about this."

Vasseur acknowledged the challenges posed to the team’s morale, pointing out that discussions around Horner’s statements were not productive. He remarked, "Mr. Horner is looking for a job - that everybody knows - everywhere. But what can I do? Just try to do my best to push the team to rise them to be motivated, focus on what is better today."

Following the race, Hamilton affirmed to Sky Sports that he was confident Ferrari was on a good path under Vasseur's leadership. When questioned about his comments on Horner, Vasseur confirmed, "I was very serious." He responded vaguely about working with Horner, stating, "You have to ask my assistant."

The background to Horner's dismissal from Red Bull involved severe allegations made against him by a female employee in February 2024, which included accusations of sexual harassment and controlling behavior. These claims were dismissed by Red Bull following two internal investigations, but Horner was let go after the 2025 British Grand Prix. The absence of public clarification from Red Bull regarding his exit has left many questions unanswered. It has been reported that the settlement between Horner and Red Bull was worth approximately 60 million euros (£51.5 million).

Ferrari entered the current season aspiring to contend for the championship with new chassis and engine regulations. Although their car excelled in cornering, they struggled with engine performance when compared to rivals Mercedes and Red Bull. This engine deficit was especially evident during the Baku race, where Leclerc fell back after qualifying second. Vasseur commented, "In the engine situation, we are losing one position per lap, and then we lose the path of the race."

Despite the difficulties, Vasseur remains committed to Ferrari, stating, "Motorsport is my life, it’s my business. I’m trying to do my best. I have the best job in the world. But it is like it is. We have still seven races to go, and I will push until the last corner." Ferrari has not secured a world championship since 2008 and has seldom had a fully competitive car since then. Horner had remarked in his interview, "Would I consider Ferrari? I mean, Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1. It’s the dream. And arguably it’s the sleeping giant of Formula 1."