Nasty rumours surrounding Ferrari: has team principal Fred Vasseur’s future been decided?

Fred Vasseur appeared somewhat dejected at times in Azerbaijan; the Frenchman, who is usually in a joking mood even in difficult times, came across as unusually withdrawn and pensive.

This may be because Ferrari is currently struggling to make headway, even after introducing an upgraded engine. The proud Ferrari team has gone five Grands Prix without a podium finish.

Long-serving Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner is adding fuel to the fire by currying favour with Ferrari.

Vasseur reacted with irritation in Baku: “We’re not working in complete tranquillity. 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.”

Ferrari has now gone without a Drivers’ Championship title since 2007 (Kimi Räikkönen) and without a Constructors’ Championship title since 2008. Even a year ago, before Ferrari offered Vasseur a new multi-year contract, questions were being raised in Italy as to whether the Frenchman was the right man at the helm of Ferrari’s F1 programme.

Topic of the week

Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring: track – hit or miss?

The people of Madrid had set their sights high for their city’s first Formula 1 World Championship race since 1981. But have the high expectations for the new Madring mixed-circuit track really been met?

Read More

TV Program

Live

Sepang: 1. Freies Training

FIA Formula One World Championship

02.10.2026 - 06:15

At the time, a possible successor was mooted: the Italian Antonello Coletta, head of Ferrari’s endurance programme. Coletta is doing a lot of things right there: a Le Mans victory on the Italians’ return in 2024, and the Manufacturers’ World Championship in 2025.

Rumours were now circulating in the paddock at the Baku City Circuit that Ferrari chairman John Elkann and the Ferrari CEO had already decided on Fred Vasseur’s future. Without confirmation from the Italian side, this must be treated as pure speculation.

Allegedly, the rumours go on to suggest, the signs point to change, one reason cited being that Vasseur had been unusually taciturn at recent meetings of the Formula 1 Strategy Group, as if he no longer had anything to do with F1’s future anyway.

Alongside Coletta (reportedly the favourite for the top job) and Horner (a controversial figure), Vasseur’s deputy, Jérôme d’Ambrosio, and McLaren team principal Andrea Stella are also said to be in the running.

Former Formula 1 driver Timo Glock, now a Grand Prix pundit for our colleagues at Sky, stands by his view: “Fred Vasseur has brought Ferrari back to where the team is now, in second place in the World Championship. He has brought structure and order to the team. To replace him now and start the next cycle – from a strategic point of view, I’d say that would be completely wrong for Ferrari.”

• All Ferrari team principals

• Since 2023: Fred Vasseur

• 2019–2022: Mattia Binotto

• 2014–2019: Maurizio Arrivabene

• 2014: Marco Mattiacci

• 2007–2014: Stefano Domenicali

• 1993–2007: Jean Todt

• 1992/1993: Sante Ghedini

• 1991: Claudio Lombardi

• 1989–1991: Cesare Fiorio

• 1978–1988: Marco Piccinini

• 1977: Robert Nosetto

• 1976: Daniele Audetto

• 1976: Guido Rosani

• 1974/1975: Luca Montezemolo

• 1973: Sandro Colombo

• 1971/1972: Peter Schetty

• 1968–1970: Franco Gozzi

• 1967: Franco Lini

• 1962–1966: Eugenio Dragoni

• 1958–1961: Romolo Tavoni

• 1957: Mino Amorotti

• 1956: Eraldo Sculati

• 1952–1955: Nello Ugolini

• 1947–1951: Federico Giberti

• 1935–1940: Nello Ugolini

• 1934: Federico Giberti

• 1932/1933: Mario Lolli

• 1930/1931: Saracco Ferrari