Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said Christian Horner’s comments about the team have become a distraction, as Ferrari pursue second place in the Formula 1 championship. Vasseur spoke after Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Charles Leclerc placed fourth and team-mate Lewis Hamilton finished sixth. Horner, dismissed as Red Bull team principal in July 2025, had told the Times this week that Ferrari was the only Formula 1 team he would join without receiving a shareholding, calling the prospect “the dream.”

Vasseur said Horner’s remarks had unsettled the team and dominated media questions. “We are not working in the perfect serenity,” he said. “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.”

Ferrari are “fighting for P2 [second place] in the championship,” Vasseur said, but discussion of Horner was taking attention away from that effort, including in the garage. “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.”

He added: “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.” Asked whether he was joking about Horner, Vasseur replied: “I was very serious.”

After the race in Baku, Sky Sports asked Hamilton whether he was confident Ferrari was on a good path under Vasseur’s leadership. The seven-time champion answered: “Yes.” Asked whether he would consider working with Horner, Vasseur said: “This you have to ask my assistant.” The remark appeared to refer to the circumstances around Horner’s departure from Red Bull in July 2025.

A female employee accused Horner of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour. The allegation became public in February 2024, and Red Bull dismissed the accusations after two internal investigations. Horner was fired as chief executive officer and team principal after the 2025 British Grand Prix. Red Bull has not publicly explained the dismissal.

The decision followed 18 tumultuous months after the allegations. Several senior team figures left during that period, including chief technical officer Adrian Newey, and Red Bull experienced a slump in form. The two parties agreed to a settlement reported by sources to be worth 60 million euros (£51.5 million).

Horner described Ferrari as Formula 1’s biggest brand in his Times interview. “Would I consider Ferrari? I mean, Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1. It's the dream. And arguably it's the sleeping giant of Formula 1,” he said. His comments prompted questions to Vasseur about the prospect of Horner joining the Italian team.

Ferrari began this season aiming to contend for titles after the introduction of new chassis and engine rules in Formula 1. The team’s car was considered the strongest through corners early in the season, but its engine has lacked performance compared with Mercedes and Red Bull. The power deficit was exposed on Baku’s long straights.

Leclerc qualified second but lost ground during the race. Vasseur said Ferrari’s engine situation was costing the team positions. “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,” he said Saturday.

He said Ferrari had been surprised to qualify on the front row at a circuit as demanding on engines as Baku. The team had expected trouble in the opening laps and after any safety-car restart. “Honestly we were surprised to be in the first row, because Baku is the most demanding in terms of engine, and was not expecting to do so. But we knew even starting from the first row that the opening laps, or in case of restarting safety car and so, it would be difficult. And it was.”

Asked whether he remained committed to his role at Ferrari, Vasseur said: “Motorsport is my life, it's my business. I'm trying to do my best. I'm there to do my job. I have the best job in the world, heh. But, it is like it is. We have still seven races to go, and I will push until the last corner.” Ferrari have not won a world championship since 2008 and have rarely had a fully competitive car since then.

Based on reporting by BBC Sport.