Speculation surrounding Fred Vasseur’s future at Ferrari continues, but former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard does not expect the Scuderia to make a major change at team principal level.
The former Red Bull driver addressed the growing speculation about Vasseur and the possibility of Christian Horner returning to Formula 1 with Ferrari during the latest episode of the Up To Speed podcast.
Asked about the prospect of Horner replacing Vasseur at Maranello, Coulthard was unequivocal.
“It won’t happen. I don’t see that scenario coming.”
Coulthard instead believes Ferrari is moving in the right direction and is increasingly close to extracting the potential of its current operation.
Horner reignites Ferrari speculation
The latest wave of speculation was partly triggered by Horner himself.
The former Red Bull team principal, who has been out of Formula 1 since leaving Red Bull, recently discussed his ambitions in an interview with The Times. Horner indicated that Ferrari was the one Formula 1 team where he would be prepared to accept the team principal role without taking an ownership stake.
Those comments inevitably prompted questions about whether Ferrari could eventually consider replacing Vasseur with the highly experienced British team principal.
Vasseur was confronted with the subject around the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and acknowledged that the speculation was having an impact on Ferrari.
The Frenchman also pointed out that Horner’s desire to find a route back into Formula 1 was hardly a secret, according to sport.de.
Coulthard defends Ferrari team principal
Coulthard believes the constant questions surrounding Vasseur are understandable, but argues that speculation of this kind is simply part of Formula 1.
“Speculation is also part of the sport.”
The Scot nevertheless offered strong support for the Ferrari team principal, highlighting Vasseur’s record before he reached Formula 1.
“I believe Fred is one of those rare examples of entrepreneurial team principals. He is a serial winner in the lower formula series. He has managed his teams in the same way that Christian did before he was given the role in Formula 1.”
Coulthard’s argument is that Vasseur should not be judged solely on Ferrari’s current performance, particularly when the team principal does not control every technical area of the organisation.
Ferrari gives Vasseur public backing
That distinction is particularly relevant when considering the scale of the changes required at Ferrari.
Coulthard pointed specifically to the limitations on Vasseur’s influence, asking whether the Frenchman had any say in the design of Ferrari’s power unit.
“Did Fred have any influence on the engine’s design? No.”
Coulthard contrasted that situation with Horner’s position at Red Bull, where the former team principal enjoyed considerable authority over the organisation.
Ferrari itself has also moved to calm the speculation.
Ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend, the Scuderia publicly expressed its “fullest confidence” in Vasseur, providing an explicit statement of support while speculation about Horner continued.
For now, therefore, the public evidence points to Ferrari continuing with Vasseur rather than preparing an immediate change at the top.
Horner’s comments have ensured that the subject remains part of the Formula 1 news cycle, but Coulthard does not see a Horner-Vasseur switch at Ferrari as an imminent development.
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