Horner doubles down with fresh Ferrari admission after recent Vasseur row

Speaking to The Guardian, Horner addressed the controversy that erupted in late September, when he openly praised Ferrari and described leading the Italian team as a dream job. His remarks fuelled rumours about Vasseur's future, eventually prompting Ferrari to publicly reaffirm its confidence in the Frenchman.

The 52-year-old has been out of Formula 1 since his departure from Red Bull in July 2025, ending a 20-year spell in charge of the Milton Keynes-based outfit. He has since been linked with several potential opportunities to return to the paddock, although it is well known that he wants his next role to include an ownership stake.

The controversy began when Horner discussed his future in an interview with The Times in September. The Briton identified Ferrari as a particularly attractive destination, describing the Scuderia as the biggest name in Formula 1 and a sleeping giant.

More significantly, he suggested Ferrari could be the one team he would consider joining without acquiring an ownership stake. That distinction immediately attracted attention, given his previously stated ambitions to become a shareholder in his next F1 project.

His comments came at a difficult time for Ferrari. Despite sitting second in the Constructors' Championship, the Italian team was enduring a podium drought that lasted several races before finally coming to an end in recent outings.

The possibility of Horner replacing the Frenchman quickly became a major talking point during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. Vasseur, who signed a contract extension in 2025, expressed frustration with the speculation and its impact on the team.

Ferrari eventually intervened on 29 September, arranging an unusual media briefing to address the rumours. The team stressed that its leadership decisions remained unchanged and that it wanted to avoid further distractions.

Almost two weeks after Ferrari's public intervention, Horner has now sought to explain what he meant by his earlier comments. In his interview with The Guardian, the former Red Bull boss insisted that his description of Ferrari as a dream job was more a reflection of the team's appeal to others than a declaration of his own intentions.

He also acknowledged Vasseur's experience and the difficulties of managing a team under constant pressure to deliver results: "Fred Vasseur is an experienced guy. He’s done a decent job. But I, more than anyone, know the pressures of running a competitive organisation. My comments got taken out of context."

Horner remains an admirer of Ferrari, but his latest explanation differs from the position he outlined in September. Rather than making an exception for the Italian team, he now insists that ownership would be a condition of any F1 return: "Ferrari is the biggest brand in F1. It’s the most historic team. But I’ve accumulated some phenomenal capital behind me, to look at the next move I potentially make in the sport."

The former Red Bull team principal then identified the main obstacle to joining Ferrari: the Scuderia is not prepared to offer him shares in the company: "That would be with ownership attached to it and Ferrari aren’t going to sell shares."

Horner, who oversaw six Constructors' Championships and eight Drivers' Championships during his time at Red Bull, also made clear that returning to Formula 1 is not something he considers essential.

He is willing to spend an extended period away from the sport while assessing potential opportunities, rather than accept another conventional team principal role: "I’m happy to sit outside the sport and see what opportunities present themselves over the coming months or years. It’s not a prerequisite that I go back."

The Briton also explained that his next project would need to involve people who share his ambition to compete at the front of the grid: "I would only return for the right opportunity with like-minded people that want to win. I would never go back just to take part."