Lewis Hamilton gave a one-word answer when asked whether he believes Frederic Vasseur is still the right man to lead Ferrari despite the team's difficult period and renewed rumours of a possible switch involving Christian Horner. Recently, the former Red Bull CEO and team principal has returned to the spotlight with an interview in which he sent clear messages of affection towards Ferrari. Horner admitted that a potential return to
Formula 1 would need to be about more than simply going back to the pit wall, with the prospect of joining a team capable of challenging at the front representing the key motivation.
Ferrari, in particular,
appears to hold a special place in Horner's thinking. The Briton described the Scuderia as the biggest brand in Formula 1 and a sleeping giant, while suggesting that the continued speculation surrounding his name more than a year after leaving the sport shows there is still interest in his services. He also joked that his trademark appearance would allow him to fit naturally into Ferrari's iconic image.
“I’ve been a hired hand. I did 21 years sitting on the pit wall. I don’t need to go back to that. At this stage in my life, there’s only one team for which I would accept non-participation in ownership.”
“Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1. It’s the dream. And arguably it’s the sleeping giant of Formula 1. I think the fact that, 14 months out of the sport, they’re still talking about me shows that there’s still a demand. Perhaps I wasn’t that unpopular.”
However, Horner remains uncertain about whether a return to the grid could happen as soon as next season. He stressed that any comeback would ultimately depend on finding the right competitive opportunity rather than satisfying personal ambition or ego, with the competitiveness of a team needing to take priority above everything else.
With Ferrari under growing pressure after going five consecutive races without a podium, Hamilton was asked by Sky Sports whether he still considers Vasseur the right person to lead the team. Amid renewed speculation linking Horner with a potential move to Maranello, the seven-time world champion responded with a simple and unequivocal “Yes”.
Asked what needs to be done in the remaining races of the season, the Briton once again kept his answer brief, responding simply: “Keep trying”.