Things are rarely calm at Ferrari, even when it seems like the Scuderia is trying to settle down and focus on rebuilding its status in the Formula 1 world.
Fresh reports suggest that the Prancing Horse’s top management might already consider replacing team principal Fred Vasseur despite handing him a contract extension just a few months ago. The Maranello outfit’s top brass appears to have set their sights on one of F1’s most famous and controversial figures, Christian Horner.
Why Is There Mounting Pressure on Fred Vasseur at Ferrari?
Ferrari’s 2025 season hasn’t gone according to plan. The Italian team’s form has dipped sharply in recent months, with no podium finishes in the last five races. For a team with Ferrari’s legacy, that’s a bitter pill to swallow.
President John Elkann is said to be far from pleased with how things are going. After another disappointing weekend in Singapore, Elkann reportedly called the team’s performance “unacceptable” in a meeting with CEO Benedetto Vigna. Ferrari’s fans have been frustrated, too, especially after watching their rivals make clear progress while their team seems to have clearly fallen off the cliff.
Vigna also made some sharp statements regarding their recent performance in the series compared to other motorsports series. “Our goal was to win races. We achieved that with the 499P in endurance racing, but in Formula 1 we need to improve. We must win because it’s our duty to our loyal fans around the world,” he admitted.
Vasseur took charge in 2023 after leaving Alfa Romeo-Sauber and was seen as someone who could bring back success to the Maranello-based team. However, the results have not been up to expectations, and according to German journalist Ralf Bach, Elkann has now shifted his focus towards Horner.
according to f1-insider, despite ferrari having renewed fred recently, elkann is considering replacing him with horner
“despite the contract extension, ferrari apparently wants to get rid of vasseur, and elkann is apparently really focused on securing christian horner’s place.” pic.twitter.com/obbsmIZ4MV
— clara (@leclercsletters) October 10, 2025
Bach claimed, “Despite the contract extension, Ferrari apparently wants to get rid of Vasseur and John Elkann is apparently really focused on securing Christian Horner’s place.”
Christian Horner Is in the Conversation
If the rumors are true, Ferrari could soon be amid a significant shake-up. Horner spent 20 years at Red Bull and turned the team into a powerhouse, and is back on the market after a messy split with the Austrian outfit earlier this year.
Horner’s departure from Red Bull made headlines everywhere after he was sacked from the CEO and team principal posts in July due to internal investigations and controversies surrounding him. Red Bull made things official by removing his name from their company records and agreeing to a massive £52 million payout.
To make matters even more interesting, Horner reportedly gave up part of that payout to shorten his “gardening leave” and speed up his return to the sport.
Since then, he’s been linked with multiple teams, including Aston Martin and Haas, making it clear that Horner isn’t done with Formula 1 yet. For a team like Ferrari that’s desperate to get back to winning ways, his resume looks very tempting.
What’s next for Ferrari?
If Ferrari does replace Vasseur with Horner, it would set the stage for one of the sport’s biggest storylines in modern F1, with Horner possibly working alongside Lewis Hamilton. The two haven’t always had the best relationship, especially after the heated 2021 title battle between Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
But there’s also a potential twist: Verstappen, too, has been linked with Ferrari in recent months and isn’t believed to be interested in working with Horner again. Some insiders even claimed that Horner’s dismissal from Red Bull was a key condition for Verstappen staying with the Austrian outfit, so a reunion under the same roof seems unlikely.
However, Ferrari might still take that risk out of desperation. Horner brings experience and a proven track record of success, which Ferrari has been missing for years. Vasseur remains in his role for now, but with whispers getting louder, it feels like Ferrari’s leadership could be gearing up for another significant change, hoping to turn their fortunes around.