Christian Horner is proving a distraction for Ferrari, according to team principal Frederic Vasseur. Vasseur said Horner is "looking for a job," a situation that undermines the team's focus.
Horner, who was dismissed as Red Bull team principal in July 2025, recently told The Times that Ferrari is the only Formula 1 team he would consider working for without a shareholding. He described this prospect as a "dream."
Vasseur voiced his frustration following Saturday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc finished fourth in the race, while his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton placed sixth.
"We are not working in the perfect serenity," Vasseur said. He noted that roughly 50 percent of media questions are about Horner, creating a difficult environment for himself, the team, and the media.
Ferrari is currently fighting for third place in the championship standings. Vasseur expressed concern that discussions about Horner are overshadowing the team's competitive efforts.
"Mr Horner is looking for a job — that everybody knows — everywhere," Vasseur said. He explained his role is to motivate the team and keep them focused on immediate goals. When asked if his comments about Horner were a joke, Vasseur replied, "I was very serious."
Horner's departure from Red Bull in July 2025 followed a tumultuous 18 months. Allegations of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behavior by a female employee became public in February 2024. Red Bull dismissed the accusations after two internal investigations.
Despite the internal findings, Horner was fired from his dual role as chief executive officer and team principal after the 2025 British Grand Prix. This period also saw several senior team figures leave Red Bull, including chief technical officer Adrian Newey, and a slump in team performance.
Red Bull has never publicly explained Horner's dismissal. The two parties reached a settlement valued by sources at 60 million euros, or £51.5 million.
Hamilton was asked by Sky Sports after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix if he was confident in Ferrari's direction under Vasseur's leadership. The seven-time champion responded simply, "Yes."
Ferrari entered this season with aspirations of being title contenders, following the introduction of new chassis and engine rules in F1. However, while the team's car was recognized as strong in corners early in the season, its engine has lacked performance compared to those from Mercedes and Red Bull.
This power deficit was evident on the long straights of the Baku circuit. Leclerc, who qualified second, lost positions during the race. Vasseur stated Saturday, "With the situation that we are in the engine, we are losing one position per lap, and then we lose the path of the race."
