Sports
Formula 1: Ferrari’s Frederic Vasseur says Christian Horner is proving a distraction
Christian Horner is proving a distraction for Ferrari by “looking for a job”, team principal Frederic Vasseur says.
Horner, dismissed as Red Bull team principal in July 2025, used an interview with the Times this week to say that Ferrari are the only Formula 1 team he would work for without being given a shareholding, describing it as “the dream”, external.
Vasseur outlined his frustration with Horner following Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix – at which Charles Leclerc finished fourth and his Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton was sixth.
He said: “We are not working in the perfect serenity.
“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.”
Vasseur was asked whether he was joking about Horner, and replied: “I was very serious.”
And asked whether he would consider working with Horner, he replied: “This you have to ask my assistant.”
That remark appears to be a reference to the circumstances surrounding Horner’s departure from Red Bull in July 2025.
Horner was accused of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour by a female employee. The allegation became public in February 2024 but the accusations were dismissed by Red Bull following two internal investigations.
That decision followed a tumultuous 18 months in the wake of the employee’s allegations, during which a number of senior team figures left – including chief technical officer Adrian Newey – and there was a slump in form.
Red Bull have never given a public explanation for Horner’s dismissal. The two parties agreed on a settlement said by sources to be worth 60m euros (£51.5m).
Ferrari entered this season hoping to be title contenders following the introduction of new chassis and engine rules in F1.
But while their car was acknowledged as the best in the corners as the season began, their engine has lacked performance compared to those of Mercedes and Red Bull.
This lack of power was exposed on the long straights of the Baku circuit, as Leclerc slipped back in the race after qualifying second.
Vasseur said on 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.
“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 was still committed to his position 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.
Horner said in his 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.”
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Watch BBC Sport Wales archive highlights as Craig Bellamy scores Wales’ 1998 winner against Denmark.
Bobby Gould was Wales manager and Bellamy describes his late winner (Available to UK users only).
Bellamy’s Wales will face Denmark in the Nations League on Sunday, 27 November (17:00 BST) with live coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC One Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.
Read more: Bellamy eyes more history against wounded Denmark
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International Test match
Australia (24) 42
Tries: Ikitau 2, Donaldson, Wilson, Jorgensen Cons: Lonergan 4 Pens: Lonergan 3
South Africa (17) 38
Tries: Grobbelaar, van der Merwe, penalty try, van den Berg, Nche Cons: Pollard 2, Mngomezulu 2 Pens: Pollard
Australia were reduced to 11 men but dug in for an extraordinary win against a much-changed South Africa side as they beat the world champions 42-38 in Perth.
The Wallabies excelled with some vibrant attacking rugby, scoring five tries against the back-to-back World Cup winners to lead by 25 points with 16 minutes left.
But then a manic spell of four yellow cards in nine minutes left the hosts overrun, with South Africa mounting a comeback that ultimately fell just short.
The visitors made 13 changes after beating New Zealand in Baltimore but still fielded a strong starting XV, which boasted 240 caps in the second row alone.
But a year out from hosting the World Cup, and a year on from being soundly beaten on home soil by the Lions, it was the home side who impressed before their bizarre late collapse.
The teams traded early penalties before Springboks hooker Johan Grobbelaar drove over for the first try of the match after a powerful maul.
Australia responded well with a wave of pressure which was rewarded when centre Len Ikitau drove over from a metre out.
Ikitau then flew over for his second after the Boks made a mess of a high ball kicked through, but the lead lasted just three minutes.
South Africa played the ball quickly and flung it out wide with Edwill van der Merwe on the end of a stunning break to score in the corner.
The high level continued as the hosts took the lead again before the break. After 14 patient but quick phases, the Wallabies whipped the ball from right to left to find fly-half Ben Donaldson free to score in the corner.
The Springboks had strength in depth to call on, and coach Rassie Erasmus made all eight changes early in the second half with his side down by 10 points.
But it was Australia who continued to dominate. Captain Harry Wilson was denied a try as his foot was in touch but just seconds later he did burrow over the line close to the posts.
Wing Max Jorgensen then sprinted the length of the pitch to score a stunning solo score after South Africa fumbled the ball to make it 42-17.
Wilson was then sin-binned and South Africa finally got their first score of the second half with a penalty try, with Ryan Lonergan yellow carded as well.
The Wallabies were down to 13 and a crossfield kick found Van der Merwe in the corner but the wing dropped the ball before he could ground it.
Australia wing Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i was then sin-binned as well to leave Australia three men down and replacement scrum-half Morne van den Berg scrambled in to cut the lead to 11 points.
Remarkably Australia then appeared to have scored again as Tom Wright intercepted a pass to run in – only for the try to be ruled out and Hunter Paisami shown a fourth yellow card for a dangerous tackle in the build-up.
South Africa had so much space and scored again through Ox Nche to cut the lead to four but time ran out.
Australia: Wright, Jorgensen, Ikitau, Paisami, Sua’ali’i, Donaldson, Lonergan; Bell, Paenga-Amosa, Alaalatoa, Salakaia-Loto, Williams, Valetini, McReight, Wilson
Replacements: Pollard, Ross, Tupou, Shaw, Hooper, Tizzano, McDermott, Potter
Yellow cards: Wilson 68, Lonergan 71, Sua’ali’i 73, Paisami 77
South Africa: Fassi, Van der Merwe, Moodie, Esterhuizen, Hooker, Pollard, Jantjies; Wessels, Grobbelaar, Porthen, Etzebeth, Mostert, De Villiers, Louw, Van Staden
Replacements: Marx, Nche, Louw, De Jager, Wiese, Van den Berg, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Horn
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
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