Christian Horner 'prime candidate' to take huge job on Formula One return

Christian Horner has been labelled the 'prime candidate' to take over as Ferrari team principal amid reports Fred Vasseur will be 'phased out' of the team.

Ever since his departure from Red Bull on July 9, 2025, after 20 years in charge, Horner has been strongly linked with a return to Formula One, with a number of teams said to be interested.

But now, with reports that Vasseur's time at Ferrari is coming to an end, it appears that the legendary Italian manufacturer's may win the battle for Horner's signature.

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Christian Horner linked with Ferrari job with Fred Vasseur set to exit

Following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, various outlets have reported that Ferrari plan to move Vasseur on from his role as team principal, a job he took in 2023.

It is believed that the team's senior leadership currently have a more long-term plan that they wish to focus on with a new principal taking charge at the end of the 2026 season.

Speaking about the rumours on the Paddock Access podcast, F1 insider and photographer Kym Illman claimed that the plan is for Vasseur to be 'phased out' of Ferrari, remaining with the team just not as team principal.

"They're going to phase him out, still keep him in the business," Illman said.

Co-host Jacky Martens confirmed: "Yes, but he's he's surely not team principal anymore next year."

The pair then discussed who could succeed the 58-year-old as team principal, labelling Horner as the 'prime candidate' after the former Red Bull chief expressed an interest in taking the 'dream' job at Ferrari earlier this week.

"Would I consider Ferrari? I mean, Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula One," Horner told The Times

"It's the dream. And arguably it's the sleeping giant of Formula One."

If Horner was to land the Ferrari job, it would be his first since leaving Red Bull following accusations of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour by a female employee.

When he eventually left Red Bull in July last year, it is believed that he Horner received a settlement worth around €60m (£51.5m).

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Fred Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton shut down Christian Horner rumours

Responding to the links after what was a relatively disappointing race in Baku, Vasseur expressed his frustrations over a situation he believes to be distracting for the team.

"We are not working in the perfect serenity," he claimed.

"For me, first, but for everybody in the team, for the media, for 50% of the questions [to be] about this, it's a bit of a frustrating situation.

"We are fighting for P3 [third place] in the championship, and at the end of the day, we are all speaking a lot about this, and even for the guys in the garage, to discuss about this, it's the best discussion that we can have.

"But it is what it is, it's not in my hands. Mr Horner is looking for a job - that everybody knows - everywhere. But what can I do? Just try to do my best to push the team, to rise them to be motivated, focus on what is better today."

Later, Vasseur was asked if he was joking about the links with Horner, to which he bluntly replied: "I was very serious."

Before seemingly referencing the controversy surrounding Horner's Red Bull exit when asked if he would work with the Englishman.

"This you have to ask my assistant," Vasseur said.

Meanwhile Lewis Hamilton, who finished sixth in Baku, bluntly sidestepped any attempts to get him to address the rumours with a one-word answer when asked about Vasseur.

Addressing if he was confident Ferrari were on a good path under Vasseur's leadership, the seven-time champion simply replied: "Yes."

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