Ferrari Make Team Principal Contract Announcement Amid Christian Horner Links
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Scuderia Ferrari announced a contract extension for team principal Fred Vasseur as the 2026 season approaches.
Reports out of Italy claimed Vasseur would be fired soon and that the team pursued former Red Bull boss Christian Horner as his replacement.
Horner allegedly turned down the job, remaining loyal to the Red Bull project, but he ended up getting fired from the energy drink team.
Ferrari leadership has now officially squashed the rumors, committing to Vasseur's vision for the future.
Scuderia Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur and Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner arrive in the paddock together during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on...
Scuderia Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur and Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner arrive in the paddock together during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 26, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico. More
Photo by"Today, we want to recognize what has been built and commit to what still needs to be achieved. It reflects our trust in Fred's leadership — a trust rooted in shared ambition, mutual expectations and clear responsibility," Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari, said in a statement.
"We move forward with determination and focus, united in our pursuit of the level of performance Ferrari has to aim for."
Under the leadership of Vasseur, Ferrari hasn't produced the fastest car, but the team has reduced its errors and has become a well-oiled machine on the procedural side.
Over the past decade, the legendary team was known for tragic blunders regarding decision making and communication.
Since joining, Vasseur has shifted the culture to reduce pressure on the staff.
"I'm grateful for the trust Ferrari continues to place in me. This renewal is not just a confirmation - it's a challenge to keep progressing, to stay focused, and to deliver.
"Over the past 30 months, we've laid strong foundations, and now we must build on them with consistency and determination," Vassuer said.
"We know what's expected, and we're all fully committed to meeting those expectations and taking the next step forward together."
Ferrari faced intense expectations heading into the season, especially after the arrival of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.
This season hasn't gone as expected, but the 2026 regulations should shake up the grid and Ferrari, who design their power unit, are in a strong spot.
Before coming to the Scuderia, Vasseur was a team principal at Sauber, where he helped develop current Ferrari starlet Charles Leclerc.
With no prior connections to the Italian team, he was an outside hire.
He was known for being a leader who could handle the team's driver dynamics well and kept things light rather than stressful consistently.
His new contract gives him an entire regulation cycle to assert himself and deliver Ferrari back to the promised land.
For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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