Ferrari Backs Frederic Vasseur Amid F1 Team Principal Speculation

Ferrari have backed Frederic Vasseur as their Formula 1 team principal.

The official statement comes amid speculation over the Frenchman's position, fuelled by former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner saying he would be interested in joining Ferrari.

Ferrari chief communication officer Maria Conti used a hastily convened media call to deliver the message, saying she was speaking on behalf of chairman John Elkann and chief executive officer Benedetto Vigna.

"Ferrari's position is clear," Conti said. "It will not change. l am officially saying - I don't have John here with me, but Ferrari has made its choice. There is confidence in Fred and his team. Nothing has changed."

Ferrari entered the 2026 season hoping their preparations for widespread rule changes covering cars and engines would give them a chance to become championship contenders.

But, although their chassis started the season regarded as the best in F1, their engine has fallen short of the performance set by Mercedes and Red Bull.

Ferrari are second in the constructors' championship after 15 of a scheduled 23 races, but a massive 160 points behind leaders Mercedes and more concerned about fending off a challenge from McLaren, who are 72 points adrift in third place.

On Saturday after the race Lewis Hamilton was asked whether he was still confident Ferrari were heading in the right direction under Vasseur. He replied: "Yes."

Vasseur said after the race in Baku in reference to speculation about his future: "We are not working in the perfect serenity. 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 P2 in the championship, and at the end of the day we are all speaking a lot about this, and even for the guys in the garage, to discuss about this, it's the best discussion that we can have.

"But it is what it is - it's not in my hands. 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."

Vasseur signed a new contract with Ferrari in July last year. Ferrari did not say how long it lasted beyond describing it as "a multi-year contract for the coming Formula 1 seasons".

Vasseur joined Ferrari at the start of 2023 after former team principal Mattia Binotto was removed following a bright start to the previous regulation set in 2022 was followed by a slump marked by poor reliability and questionable operational decisions.