There’s growing talk around the paddock that Ferrari chairman John Elkann is eyeing a move for former Red Bull boss Christian Horner, which could put Fred Vasseur’s job at risk.
Horner parted ways with Red Bull in September, having been sacked as team principal back in July. Since then, his name has popped up in connection with several teams, but the link to Ferrari has been especially persistent.
There are reports suggesting that Ferrari chairman John Elkann is actively trying to bring Horner on board. Even though Vasseur only signed a new contract through 2027 this summer, Elkann is said to be considering a change despite that recent commitment.
The Maranello outfit’s poor results and direction with upgrades in 2025 have caused dissatisfaction and friction among several departments. The former Red Bull boss’ availability has fuelled the speculation, with Ferrari supposedly taking the Horner links ‘very seriously’.
Some reports have even suggested that Ferrari might build a new UK technology centre as part of their efforts to lure Horner. Still, there were always doubts about how realistic these rumours were, and most of it may not even be true.
Fred Vasseur backed by John Elkann as Christian Horner links to Ferrari dismissed
If Horner were to make the move to Ferrari, he’d be looking for a deal worth ‘two and a half times’ what Vasseur earns. He also wouldn’t want to take home less than what he was making at Red Bull. But his plans for getting back into F1 don’t quite match up with what Maranello have in mind.
Ferrari aren’t going to hand over any shares, which is something Horner wants in his next role – an ownership stake. Adrian Newey faced a similar situation when he was linked with the team but ended up at Aston Martin after they offered him a minority share.
The rumours linking Horner with Ferrari have picked up recently, but according to Sky Italia, there’s no substance to them. They suggest the speculation has been driven more by media chatter than anything concrete.
Some Italian journalists are reportedly unhappy about the lack of access compared to Mattia Binotto’s era and still haven’t let go of how his exit was handled, adding more fuel to the talk about Horner stepping in.
Sky Italia points out that if there had been any real interest from Ferrari, it would have happened back in July when Horner lost his job at Red Bull shortly after Vasseur’s contract renewal was made public.
The contract extension served as a clear message that Elkann had full trust in Vasseur and wanted stability around him. So far, all signs point away from any real movement toward Horner joining the team.
Christian Horner’s possible landing spots if Ferrari move falls through
With the Ferrari door now closed, Horner still has options for a possible return to F1 in 2026, though several teams have already dismissed the idea of bringing him on board.
Aston Martin have shown no interest in Horner. Team principal Andy Cowell noted that the Briton has approached every team on the grid. Haas have also distanced themselves from Horner, unwilling to part with any ownership stake in the team.
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Alpine might be his only realistic route back into F1, given his strong connection with Flavio Briatore. The two have had private talks before, and with Alpine struggling at the bottom of the standings in 2025, they could see value in adding someone like Horner.
Even so, joining a team won’t come cheap. It’s reported that it could cost up to £1.5bn just to buy into one of the smaller outfits, which could complicate any plans he has for a comeback.
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