What Fred Vasseur just told Ferrari boss in ‘private’ Maranello meeting about Christian Horner links

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Fred Vasseur will oversee Ferrari at the United States Grand Prix but, before flying to COTA, he met the Scuderia’s hierarchy to discuss the reports linking Christian Horner.

The travelling circus of Formula 1 pitches its tents in Austin, Texas this weekend for round 19 of this term’s 24. But the F1 drivers’ championship fight featuring Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen will not be the only talk of the town, with Vasseur in the eye of a storm.

Vasseur has met a tidal wave of speculation since the Singapore Grand Prix claiming Ferrari are interested in appointing Horner following his departure from Red Bull. The Briton will be free to take charge of a rival F1 team in early 2026 and Ferrari have stomached a sorry 2025.

Ferrari are the only one of F1’s top four teams without a Grand Prix win so far in 2025. Lewis Hamilton is also yet to even earn a Grand Prix podium finish since he joined Ferrari, who are third in the constructors’ standings with a 352-point deficit to McLaren and 27 to Mercedes.

Fred Vasseur has told Ferrari of his ‘irritation’ about the Christian Horner links

So, despite Ferrari signing Vasseur to a new contract through 2027 this July, a raft of claims have emerged that the Frenchman is under pressure. It is claimed that Ferrari chairman John Elkann wants Horner to replace Vasseur, who has stood at their helm since December 2022.

READ MORE: Who is Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur? Everything you need to know

But as quickly as it surfaced, the speculation has been rubbished. It is now said that Vasseur has Elkann’s full support to lead Ferrari, who have no active interest in appointing Horner. An ‘informal’ meeting between Vasseur and the Ferrari hierarchy may have helped his situation.

According to FunoAnalisiTecnica, Vasseur met with a ‘front line’ Ferrari manager who works with CEO Benedetto Vigna on Wednesday in Maranello to discuss the reports linking Horner with his job. Vasseur wanted to clear the air before flying to Austin for the United States GP.

Vasseur made his ‘irritation and discomfort’ about the reports that Ferrari are very attentive to Horner’s availability clear to the Scuderia boss during their ‘private’ talks. The 57-year-old also made it clear his frustration is due to the claims surrounding the team, not only himself.

Ferrari have ‘promised’ Vasseur that he will now have more support from the media. But it is ‘abundantly clear’ that Ferrari will not react to Vasseur’s ‘alarm’ with an official statement to address his future in Maranello, which should see him guide the Scuderia into at least 2026.

Fred Vasseur must improve Ferrari’s form to truly secure his long-term future

It remains to be seen what support Ferrari can now muster for Vasseur in the Italian press. It is said that the Italian press has targeted Vasseur by linking Horner with Ferrari, with certain veteran journalists thought to be unhappy about his refusal to give them extra information.

Elkann would risk a lot were he to fire Vasseur and appoint Horner to a top role at Ferrari, as either their new team principal or at the CEO level like he enjoyed at Red Bull. Horner would not be able to have influence until his gardening leave from Red Bull is finished in early 2026.

But it now seems likely that Vasseur will indeed lead Ferrari into F1’s 2026 regulations, which the Frenchman has been putting plans in place for in the last few years. The Scuderia’s car for the new regulations will be their first car truly influenced by technical director Loic Serra.

Vasseur will know that Ferrari have to improve their results for his long-term future to truly be safe, however. The Scuderia would likely sit fourth in the 2025 F1 constructors’ standings were Red Bull able to rely on two drivers, with Verstappen boasting 273 of their 290 points.