In the high-stakes drama of Formula 1, where a single rumor can shake up entire teams and captivate fans worldwide, the buzz around Fred Vasseur potentially being ousted from Ferrari has been nothing short of explosive. But here's where it gets controversial—could these whispers be more than just gossip, or are they unfairly tarnishing a dedicated leader's reputation? Dive in as we unpack the latest developments and uncover the truth behind this unfolding saga.
Rumors suggesting that Ferrari might dismiss team principal Fred Vasseur and bring in ex-Red Bull boss Christian Horner as his successor are completely off-base, according to insights from PlanetF1.com. This comes on the heels of sensational stories claiming that Ferrari's chairman, John Elkann, was seriously mulling over ousting Vasseur mere months after awarding the Frenchman a fresh multi-year contract deal.
Fred Vasseur Ferrari exit rumors wide of the mark
After coming agonizingly close—missing the constructors' championship by just 14 points—last season, Ferrari has been grappling with a lackluster 2025 Formula 1 campaign. The squad has yet to secure a single victory across 18 races, with their SF-25 car, piloted by star drivers Charles Leclerc and new recruit Lewis Hamilton, plagued by a critical ride height problem. For beginners in the sport, ride height refers to how close the car's chassis sits to the ground, and getting it wrong can drastically affect aerodynamics, stability, and overall speed—think of it as the difference between a sleek sports car hugging the road and one wobbling unpredictably.
This issue directly led to Hamilton's disqualification from the season's second race in China due to excessive wear on the skid blocks (those protective elements on the underside that prevent overly low ride heights). Consequently, Ferrari had to adjust the car's ride height upward, trading off some performance in the process—a classic example of how one technical tweak can ripple through an entire championship.
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Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix back in June, Italian media outlets stirred the pot with reports alleging Vasseur's position was on the line due to Ferrari's sluggish season start. At the time, Horner—still at Red Bull's helm—was floated as a possible replacement, alongside Antonello Coletta, who heads Ferrari's championship-winning World Endurance Championship division.
As PlanetF1.com previously covered (https://www.planetf1.com/news/fred-vasseur-sack-ferrari-christian-horner-approach-antonello-coletta), Ferrari reportedly reached out to Horner before his surprising departure from Red Bull in July. And this is the part most people miss—the timing of these approaches adds a layer of intrigue, hinting at how interconnected the paddock's power dynamics can be.
To quell the storm, Ferrari publicly announced that Vasseur, now 57, had inked a multi-year contract extension just before July's Hungarian Grand Prix. In a message shared with PlanetF1.com, Ferrari's chief executive Benedetto Vigna emphasized that the agreement underscored the organization's 'confidence in Fred's guidance—a confidence built on aligned goals, shared visions, and defined duties.'
Despite Ferrari's ongoing woes post-summer hiatus, a recent German publication suggested that Mr. Elkann was actively contemplating Vasseur's removal, with Horner again emerging as a top contender (https://www.planetf1.com/news/fred-vasseur-ferrari-sack-rumour-confrontation). Yet, PlanetF1.com's sources, well-positioned to know, confirm that these assertions about Vasseur's job security are entirely unfounded.
As detailed by PlanetF1.com (https://www.planetf1.com/news/christian-horner-100-million-red-bull-settlement-f1-return), Horner formally exited Red Bull last month following a $100 million (£74.2m/€85.1m) settlement. Under the terms of his departure, he's reportedly free to re-enter Formula 1 for the 2026 season. On Wednesday, PlanetF1.com reported (https://www.planetf1.com/news/christian-horner-f1-2026-comeback-rumours-ferrari-speculation-addressed) that Horner is focusing on securing a stake or ownership role in his F1 return, with the 51-year-old showing little interest in reverting to a team principal position—think of it as preferring to be the boss behind the scenes rather than the frontline commander.
Finding such an ownership opportunity at Ferrari seems improbable, given that the marque is largely publicly traded (68.19 percent of shares) with the rest divided between Exor N.V. (21.20 percent) and Piero Ferrari (10.61 percent). Moreover, Ferrari's reputation for rotating team principals might not align with Horner's preferences, as Vasseur is the fourth individual in that role since Stefano Domenicali stepped down as current F1 supremo in April 2014. But here's where it gets controversial—is this frequent turnover a sign of instability, or a necessary evolution in a sport where innovation demands fresh leadership? It's a debate that divides fans and experts alike.
Following the extension announcement, Vasseur opened up about feeling 'deeply angered' by the speculation during the Canadian Grand Prix period. He contended that the chatter hindered progress on his contract talks and created unnecessary disruption within the Ferrari ranks, pointing to the 'upheaval' caused by the media frenzy.
In an interview with German outlet Auto Motor und Sport, Vasseur elaborated: 'Speculation sparked the chaos. I didn't fuel it; the press did. Neither Ferrari nor I uttered a word. But in today's world, dodging such distracting chatter is impossible. I won't paint all reporters with the same brush, yet online journalism has grown more cutthroat, driven by the need for clicks. When those rumors surfaced in Canada, I was genuinely furious—they crossed a line. My technical director Loic Serra was unfairly criticized for underperforming, despite the 2025 car being nearly complete before he joined. The narrative around Charles Leclerc mirrored this; outlets claimed he was heading to Mercedes, ignoring his repeated affirmations of a long-term Ferrari commitment. This turmoil impacts the entire team. Italians tend to react passionately, and without the noise, my negotiations with Ferrari would've wrapped up sooner.'
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
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What do you think—do rumors like these add excitement to F1 or unfairly pressure teams? And on a controversial note, could Horner actually bring the turnaround Ferrari needs, or is Vasseur the steady hand they require? Share your thoughts in the comments; we'd love to hear your take on this heated debate!
