FERRARI COULD MAKE UNTHINKABLE MOVE, REPLACE VASSEUR WITH HORNER
Ferrari is considering a shock move for former Red Bull boss Christian Horner to replace Fred Vasseur in 2026. Reports suggest they may even establish a UK technical centre to lure the Briton.
As the Briton looks to return to the paddock in 2026, Ferrari is considering Christian Horner, the fired Red Bull team principal, as a possible replacement for Fred Vasseur.
Following the completion of his departure from Red Bull in September, Horner is now formally free to begin talks with any suitors. Although they had to negotiate the termination of his contract through 2030, the Milton Keynes team relieved the 51-year-old of his operational responsibilities in June.
After 20 years leading the staff for the Austrian energy drink company, he will now take a gardening leave of absence. However, as part of his reduced severance payout, Red Bull consented to allow Horner to rejoin Formula One in early 2026. John Elkann, the chairman of Ferrari, has therefore taken notice of Horner.
According to reports, Elkann is thinking about hiring Horner even though Ferrari signed Vasseur to a new deal through 2027 this July. Ferrari has failed to win a Grand Prix this season, and the Scuderia's ongoing problems in the 2025 season have put the Frenchman in a precarious position once more.
To persuade Christian Horner to come, Ferrari might set up a technology centre in the UK.
However, it is far from likely that the Leamington Spa native would consent to take over at Maranello, even though Ferrari is seeking Horner because Elkann has lost faith in Vasseur. According to a report by Funo Analisi Tecnica, Ferrari would consider going to extreme measures to entice Horner.
The Briton's unwillingness to leave England, which his family, including wife Geri Halliwell, would not be too happy about, is one of the main obstacles in Ferrari's route to hiring Horner. In order to accommodate Horner, Ferrari might think about setting up a new technical centre in the UK.
Since 1997, Ferrari has not maintained a facility in the UK, and at that time, it did not benefit much from it. However, technological advancements over the last three decades could make it a more lucrative venture, particularly if Elkann can secure his long-term aim in the UK.
With a base in the so-called Motorsport Valley, Horner may not be the first newcomer Ferrari signs. A UK site might help the Scuderia expand its ranks beyond the leader at the very top, although Ferrari may find it difficult to persuade some employees to relocate to Italy.
For a UK plant to be successful for Ferrari, Elkann would need to make a large financial investment. However, the chairman of Scuderia can counter that Horner's leadership might help boost the brand's worth at the base. But it probably would not be a success story right away.
In 1997, Ferrari closed its last design centre in England.
In the 1980s, Ferrari first considered setting up a technological centre in England, with a base in Guildford, to recruit John Barnard, who was hesitant to move to Italy. Enzo Ferrari also believed in it, but it was difficult to communicate between Guildford and Maranello.
Under the direction of Luca di Montezemolo, the Scuderia also attempted to establish a facility in the UK in 1993, with a design and development base situated near Shalford. However, Ferrari returned to operating every aspect of their team out of Maranello in 1997, ending that base's existence.
Horner may be able to make a UK site work for Ferrari more than the Scuderia's other efforts, nearly thirty years later. However, the likelihood that it is the final straw Elkann needs to persuade Horner to take Vasseur's post at Ferrari is slim and costly.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
