Frederic Vasseur has admitted the constant speculation swirling around his future is proving "frustrating" for Ferrari, after Christian Horner spoke openly about the team's job being the only one that could tempt him back into Formula 1.

Vasseur, who left Sauber to take charge at Maranello in 2023, has guided Ferrari back into race-winning form this season following a difficult 2025, but their challenge for the world championship has cooled considerably, with the team going five races without a podium finish. That slump has coincided with renewed chatter about Horner, who told The Times last week that Ferrari was the only outfit he would consider joining without insisting on an ownership stake — something he has otherwise made central to any potential return following his July exit from Red Bull.

Speaking after Sunday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where his drivers finished fourth and sixth, Vasseur was asked whether the ongoing external noise was affecting the team. He conceded it was becoming difficult to ignore.

"We are not working in perfect serenity," Vasseur said. "For me, first, but for everybody in the team, for the media, for the 50 per cent of the questions about this. I think it's a bit of a frustrating situation. We are fighting for P2 in the championship... it's not the best discussion that we can have. But it is what it is, it's not in my hands."

Addressing Horner's situation directly, Vasseur said: "Mr Horner is looking for a job. Everybody knows, everywhere. What can I do? I just try to do my best to push the team, to ask the team to be motivated, focus on what is better today, and not to spend time with gossips. In each interview, it will be 25 times a day."

Vasseur, who signed a multi-year extension last year, insisted his commitment to Ferrari remains unwavering as he tries to steer the team back to a first title since 2008. "The sport is my life, it's my business," the 58-year-old said. "I have the best job in the world. We still have seven races to go and we will push to the last corner."

Lewis Hamilton, who worked with Vasseur in junior categories before joining Ferrari from Mercedes this year, confirmed after the Baku race that he still believes the team is heading in the right direction under him.

Sky Sports F1 pundit Jacques Villeneuve said Horner's availability was something any team would have to weigh up, citing his record of building Red Bull into a dominant force with eight drivers' and six constructors' titles. "You have to take that into consideration," the 1997 world champion said, though he added that Ferrari's history of frequent leadership changes means "you are always on an ejectable seat."

Source: Sky Sports

See also our earlier piece: Montezemolo Says Ferrari Is "No Longer There, Not Even Close" in Scathing Leadership Attack