Surer calls Vasseur 'weak' and names Horner as the 'perfect man' to fix Ferrari

The Swiss former driver took particular aim at Vasseur's reluctance to order Charles Leclerc aside for Lewis Hamilton at Zandvoort, where Ferrari had asked Leclerc to pit but the Monegasque initially refused and did not do so until the following lap, costing Hamilton crucial time and a likely podium.

Surer argued the problem extends far beyond one race, claiming Ferrari have lacked decisive leadership since Jean Todt's departure. "It was always a bit wishy-washy because there was not somebody there saying, 'Okay, that's how we do it,' like Toto Wolff does," he said, drawing an unfavourable comparison between Vasseur and the Mercedes boss.

Where Patrese described Horner as "a very good team principal" but stressed he did not want to put "the cross of death" against Vasseur, Surer was unequivocal in his endorsement of the former Red Bull boss, who has been a free agent since his departure from Milton Keynes.

However, Surer warned that Horner should only accept the position if Ferrari grant him the freedom to bring in his own people, pointing to the era of Todt and Ross Brawn as the model for success.

Ferrari last won the constructors' championship in 2008, during a run of dominance built by the duo.

"When Ross Brawn went there, he took half of the team that came from Benetton; suddenly Ferrari was a British team after that, with a French team principal [Jean Todt]. If Christian goes by himself, alone, he's lost there," Surer cautioned.

Surer also questioned whether Horner would even want to take on the intense scrutiny that comes with managing the sport's most iconic team. "He has his family and his horses, all in England; why should he go to Italy and get all the bad press?" he said. "It's not easy to be team principal at Ferrari, so why should he do it?"

His criticism comes after Riccardo Patrese offered a more balanced analysis on Vasseur's handling of the situation at Ferrari.