Fred Vasseur on alert as shock replacement emerges after.

Fred Vasseur on alert as shock replacement emerges after…read more

A recent report has stirred the Formula 1 paddock with speculation that Fred Vasseur could be replaced as Ferrari team principal, with Antonello Coletta, head of the marque’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) programme, emerging as a potential successor. This follows confirmed reports that Ferrari had previously approached Red Bull Racing’s long-standing team principal, Christian Horner, in an apparent effort to lure him away from Milton Keynes. That attempt, however, was ultimately unsuccessful.

Vasseur, who took over the reins at Ferrari in December 2022 after Mattia Binotto’s resignation, was tasked with spearheading a long-term rebuild of the iconic Italian team. Under his leadership, Ferrari has shown noticeable improvement. The 2024 season was particularly encouraging for the Scuderia, who managed to finish a strong second in the Constructors’ Championship, just 14 points behind the title-winning McLaren. This marked Ferrari’s most competitive campaign in several years.

Throughout the 2024 season, both Ferrari drivers delivered impressive performances. Charles Leclerc secured victories on home soil in Monaco, at the team’s home race in Italy, and in the United States. Meanwhile, his teammate Carlos Sainz clinched wins in Australia and Mexico, contributing significantly to the team’s resurgence. These results underscored the strength and competitiveness of the SF-24 car and the improved operational efficiency under Vasseur’s guidance.

Despite this upturn in form, rumours of a potential leadership change have persisted. The reported interest in Christian Horner suggested Ferrari’s continued desire to secure a team boss with a proven record of sustained championship success. Horner, who has been at the helm of Red Bull Racing since its inception in 2005, has overseen multiple Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships. However, he remains committed to Red Bull, making a move to Ferrari unlikely in the near future.

With Horner apparently off the table, attention has now turned inward to Ferrari’s own racing ecosystem. Antonello Coletta, who has been leading Ferrari’s highly successful WEC and GT racing departments, is now being viewed as a strong candidate to step into the F1 team principal role should Vasseur depart. Coletta has been instrumental in Ferrari’s endurance racing revival, including their return to the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a win in 2023.

As speculation continues, no official confirmation has been made by Ferrari regarding any changes in leadership. Still, the emergence of Coletta as a potential replacement for Vasseur, particularly in the wake of the failed Horner pursuit, suggests that the team may be weighing up internal alternatives as they prepare for the next phase of their F1 journey.