Ferrari’s growing impatience – When Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna told investors that ‘we have to win’, it was more than just a rallying cry. Amidst the financial forecasts and discussions about innovation, his words seemed to convey an implicit ultimatum to team boss Fred Vasseur. The polite, corporate tone could not hide the mounting pressure in Maranello.
While endurance racing trophies may look impressive in Ferrari’s museum, they are no substitute for Formula 1 glory. The Scuderia’s last constructors’ title dates back to 2008, and its last drivers’ title to 2007. For a team with such a legacy, this is bordering on the intolerable.
Vigna’s statement has thus taken on new meaning in the paddock, it is a coded message that patience is running thin. While his call to ‘win’ may have been intended as motivation, it sounded more like a line being drawn in the sand. And in Formula 1, when executives start drawing lines, they tend to redraw the organisational chart soon after.
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The return of the kingmaker?
Enter Christian Horner. Having recently left Red Bull after a long and turbulent tenure, the 51-year-old has suddenly become one of the most sought-after figures in the sport.
According to the Daily Mail, Ferrari has already made discreet overtures, with multiple sources confirming that discussions have taken place. Other teams are reportedly in talks too, but Ferrari’s interest stands out, both for its symbolism and for the timing of it.
Ferrari chairman John Elkann is said to have lost confidence in Frédéric Vasseur, whose steady leadership has failed to produce consistent results. With the team languishing behind McLaren and Red Bull, and with the tension between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc growing, Ferrari’s patience appears to be wearing thin.
Vigna’s pointed remarks about the need to win, combined with these rumours, paint a clear picture: the Scuderia’s leadership wants change, and they want it fast.
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A crisis of confidence
Behind the glossy press statements and forecasts of €9 billion in revenue by 2030 lies a growing sporting crisis. Ferrari’s expectations remain sky-high, yet on-track results continue to disappoint.
The SF-25 has shown flashes of competitiveness, but reliability issues and strategic errors persist. Both Hamilton and Leclerc are stuck in the midfield battle, sitting fifth and sixth in the standings.
In this context, the idea of bringing in Christian Horner as a “troubleshooter” seems like a good solution. The Briton’s track record, multiple constructors’ and drivers’ titles with Red Bull, would lend the team instant credibility.
More importantly, his reputation for maximising performance and navigating internal politics could be exactly what Ferrari’s fractured structure needs. For Elkann, whose public statements have become increasingly personal, Horner is the kind of proven winner who could restore Ferrari’s prestige.
Yet the situation remains fluid. Horner is reportedly considering several options and has a long-term goal of shares and ownership in an F1 team, yet is engaged in exploratory discussions with multiple teams to get back on the horse as fast as possible.
Haas, for instance, confirmed preliminary talks, though these quickly stalled. Team principal Ayao Komatsu admitted that the conversations “didn’t go any deeper”, and financial considerations are likely to have played a part.
Guenther Steiner, the candid former Haas boss, hinted on his Red Flags podcast that money might have been a deciding factor.
“We all know from the reports how much money Christian earned,” Steiner remarked, suggesting that the American team simply couldn’t match the €10 million annual salary that Horner reportedly commanded at Red Bull. With a grin, Steiner added, “I would have liked to earn as much as Christian, but that wasn’t the case.”
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A strategic reshuffle in motion
If Ferrari were to pursue Horner, it would be one of the most significant managerial coups in recent years. Vasseur’s position, though officially secure, would be under threat immediately. While his tenure has been steady, it has been uninspiring, sufficient to stabilise Ferrari after years of chaos, but not enough to satisfy the board’s hunger for trophies.
For Vigna and Elkann, appointing Horner would be a statement, one that signals Ferrari’s determination to win again at any cost. Horner’s experience of leading Red Bull’s modern dominance would bring structure and ruthlessness to a team that has long been known for its internal politics and emotional decision-making.
Nevertheless, the potential cultural clash cannot be overlooked.
Ferrari’s management has historically struggled with strong-willed outsiders, and Horner’s hands-on approach could disrupt Maranello’s traditional hierarchy. However, perhaps that is exactly what Ferrari needs, a shake-up from someone who knows how to turn ambition into success. One can look back to the dark days of Ferrari in the late eighties and early nineties, when the team was rebuilt into a Michael Schumacher winning machine after ‘foreigners’ such as Jean Todt, Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn took over the reins.
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The calm before a potential storm?
As Ferrari pushes ahead with its financial ambitions and electric future, the Formula 1 division stands at a crossroads. Vigna’s remark, ‘We have to win’, now sounds less like a motivational speech and more like a warning bell for Vasseur. The team’s leadership has made its expectations clear: endurance success, financial projections and technological prowess all pale in comparison to victory in Formula 1.
Whether Christian Horner ultimately answers Ferrari’s call remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: when a CEO and chairman start talking about racing ‘as a personal matter’ and ‘winning’ becomes a mantra, it usually means someone’s position is becoming unstable. The Scuderia’s next move could determine not only its competitive future, but also whether Fred Vasseur will remain part of it.
Ferrari’s engines are roaring once again, but this time, the real noise may be coming from the boardroom rather than the track.
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With Lewis Hamilton’s signature captured and the seven times world Formula One champion driver joining the Ferrari team in 2025, hopes were high for a marriage made in heaven. Having suffered the ignominy of sixteen long years without winning either F1 title, the iconic Italian squad is staring down the barrel of a record length of drought without championship glory the year.
Hamilton’s move to Maranello was also one which sought redemption for the British driver, who since being defeated in spectacular fashion by Max Verstappen on the last lap of the last race in 2021 had suffered his worst run in the sport.
With just two race wins in almost four years, Hamilton is facing up to the fact he is unlikely to even make the podium this year as Ferrari’s fortunes have collapsed. The biggest mistake the senior management made was by choosing to build an all new car for 2025 during the last year of a set of FIA design regulations.
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The SF-24 was a very good machine which saw Charles Leclerc score more points than any other driver following the 2024 summer break. The team too overhauled a 79 point deficit following the Singapore Grand Prix falling short of the constructor’s title in Abu Dhabi by just 14 points to McLaren.
Fred Vasseur announced to the Italian media at the Maranello festive bash that for 2025, “The car will be completely new; I think we’ll have less than 1% of the parts in common with the 2024 car.” This writer penned at the time this appeared to…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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