Ferrari have stood behind Frederic Vasseur as the team principal for their Formula 1 outfit.
The official announcement is being made against the backdrop of reports surrounding the Frenchman’s role at the helm of affairs, triggered by former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner declaring that he would like to join Ferrari.
According to BBC Sport, Maria Conti, the chief communication officer of Ferrari, took to a hastily organized press conference to announce the news.
“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 came into the 2026 season hopeful that their preparations for upcoming rules regarding cars and engines would enable them to be among championship challengers.
However, despite the chassis having come into the season as the best in F1, the engine has been unable to match up to the standards set by Mercedes and Red Bull.
Ferrari are in second place in the constructors’ championship, having contested 15 out of the scheduled 23 races of the season, but they are 160 points behind Mercedes, the leading team, while at the same time worrying about being challenged by McLaren, who are 72 points behind them in third position.
When interviewed on Saturday post-race, Lewis Hamilton was asked if he was still sure that Ferrari were heading in the right direction under Vasseur. “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.”
