After Christian Horner’s flirtation with Ferrari: Suddenly, everything is completely different

No job is as precarious as that of the Ferrari team principal. The Tifosi and the Italian press are merciless. If Ferrari fails to succeed, the team principal will have to take the fall – sooner rather than later.

It doesn’t help either when outsiders stir up further unrest within the team. No one needs to explain to the Englishman Christian Horner how to play the media game. And to promote his new book, it’s perfectly fine for it to be a bit controversial – for example, by the 52-year-old rather brazenly positioning himself as Vasseur’s successor.

Christian Horner told The Times: “I’ve been an employee before. I sat on the pit wall for 21 years. I don’t need to go back there. At this stage in my life, there’s only one team where I’d accept not having a stake in the ownership.”

“Would I consider Ferrari? Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1. That’s the dream. And you could say it’s the sleeping giant of Formula 1.”

Horner, modest as ever: “I think the fact that people are still talking about me 14 months after I left the sport shows that there’s still a demand. Perhaps I wasn’t so unpopular after all.”

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In Baku, Lewis Hamilton and Fred Vasseur were asked about Horner’s comments. Vasseur said: “We’re not working in complete peace and quiet. That applies first and foremost to me, but also to everyone else in the team. It’s a somewhat frustrating situation that 50 per cent of the questions relate to such matters. Mr Horner is looking for a job – everyone knows that – and he’s looking everywhere.”

How Ferrari backed Fred Vasseur

Ferrari even had to call upon its senior spokesperson, Maria Conti, to clarify: “In recent days, there has been increased speculation surrounding Scuderia Ferrari HP, particularly with regard to its leadership. Ferrari’s stance is clear and has not changed.”

“We have every confidence in Fred Vasseur and his team – and that will remain the case. At the moment, it is crucial that the team presents a united and cohesive front and that we focus all our energy on the tasks ahead. We therefore wish to avoid speculation or comments on rumours from outside the company at all costs, and certainly do not wish to fuel them. This applies not only to the report in *The Times* about Mr Horner, but also, more generally, to the many speculations circulating on this matter.”

But – to our amazement – suddenly everything has changed. Speaking to the Guardian, Horner now strikes this tone: “Fred Vasseur is an experienced individual; he has done a good job. I know better than anyone the pressure that comes with leading an organisation of this magnitude. My comments were taken out of context.”