Ferrari’s team principal seat is never quiet for long. In late September 2026, after another mixed weekend in Azerbaijan, Frederic Vasseur openly admitted the constant speculation about his future is frustrating the entire team. “We are not working in perfect serenity,” he said, while noting that Christian Horner “is looking for a job… everywhere.” The comments came amid fresh paddock whispers of a succession plan at Maranello and reports that Ferrari leadership has been quietly evaluating options beyond the Frenchman’s multi-year contract extension signed in 2025.
Vasseur has led Scuderia Ferrari since the start of 2023. He brought structure after the Mattia Binotto era, helped deliver race wins, oversaw the high-profile arrival of Lewis Hamilton, and currently has the team fighting for second in the constructors’ championship. Yet the gap to the leaders remains large, recent form has been inconsistent, and the political pressure inside the most scrutinized team in Formula 1 never truly eases. If the decision is made to change course at the end of 2026 or into 2027, the choice of successor will shape Ferrari’s competitiveness for years.
THE INTERNAL OPTION: ANTONELLO COLETTA AND WHY HE MAKES SENSE
Multiple sources point to Antonello Coletta, Ferrari’s long-serving Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti, as the most frequently discussed internal candidate. Coletta has been with the company since the late 1990s. Under his leadership, Ferrari’s Hypercar programme delivered consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours victories from 2023 to 2025 and a World Endurance Championship title. That success demonstrates operational competence, an ability to deliver under the unique pressure of endurance racing, and deep institutional knowledge of how Maranello works.
Promoting from within offers continuity. Coletta already understands Ferrari’s culture, its engineering hierarchy, and the expectations of chairman John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna. An internal appointment reduces the risk of another disruptive leadership reset and signals that Ferrari trusts its own talent pipeline. The counter-argument is straightforward: Formula 1 operates at a different intensity and political complexity. WEC success does not automatically translate to the weekly pressure of grand prix weekends, budget-cap politics, and driver management involving two high-profile stars. Coletta has previously downplayed F1 interest, and some reports suggest he has resisted earlier approaches. Still, if Ferrari prioritises stability and cultural fit over a headline-grabbing external name, he remains the pragmatic frontrunner.
THE DEPUTY PATH: JÉRÔME D’AMBROSIO AS A SMOOTH TRANSITION
Jérôme d’Ambrosio, currently Ferrari’s deputy team principal, represents another low-drama option. The Belgian arrived with experience from Mercedes under Toto Wolff and has worked closely with Vasseur. Elevating him would allow a staged handover that preserves much of the current organisational structure. It could even be presented as a natural progression rather than a rupture.
This route appeals if Ferrari wants to avoid the noise that would accompany a bigger name. D’Ambrosio knows the current car development cycle, the drivers, and the operational routines. The limitation is experience at the absolute top level. Ferrari has a history of demanding more than competent deputies; it wants leaders who can impose a vision and navigate the intense internal and external scrutiny that comes with the Scuderia. A promotion of d’Ambrosio might buy time, but it risks being viewed as a holding pattern rather than a decisive step forward.
THE BIG EXTERNAL NAME: CHRISTIAN HORNER’S APPEAL AND RISKS
Christian Horner’s recent comments calling Ferrari “the dream” and the only team for which he would forgo equity reignited the most dramatic scenario. Horner spent two decades building Red Bull into a powerhouse, delivering multiple drivers’ and constructors’ titles. His track record of attracting talent, making hard personnel decisions, and creating a winning culture is unmatched among available candidates.
For Ferrari, Horner would bring proven championship-winning leadership and an aggressive edge that some believe the team still lacks. He already has a long-standing relationship with Elkann, who previously courted him before Vasseur’s appointment. Yet the obstacles are significant. Horner has historically sought substantial control and influence over technical direction and commercial aspects—something Ferrari’s more rigid corporate structure has not granted previous team principals. There are also cultural and interpersonal questions: how would a high-profile British outsider fit inside Maranello, and how would the existing technical and racing staff respond after years of relative continuity under Vasseur? Hamilton’s past history with Red Bull adds another layer of complexity. Horner remains the most exciting name on paper and the one most likely to generate headlines, but the practical barriers make him a higher-risk choice than the internal options.
THE ITALIAN EXPERIENCE PLAY: ANDREA STELLA
Andrea Stella, currently McLaren team principal, appears regularly in longer-term speculation. An Italian with deep Ferrari roots from his earlier career as an engineer working with Michael Schumacher and Kimi Räikkönen, Stella has transformed McLaren into a consistent front-runner. His methodical, engineering-led approach and proven ability to rebuild a team culture make him an attractive long-term candidate if McLaren’s succession plans (including the arrival of figures such as Gianpiero Lambiase) free him up.
Stella would satisfy any desire for an Italian at the helm while bringing modern Formula 1 leadership experience. The timing, however, is uncertain. McLaren is performing strongly, and Stella is deeply embedded in Woking’s success. Any move would require careful negotiation and might not be available on Ferrari’s preferred schedule.
WHY THE DECISION MATTERS BEYOND ONE MAN
A change at the top would ripple through the organisation. Drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton need clarity on the technical direction and the long-term plan. The engineering and aerodynamic departments have been working under Vasseur’s structure for several seasons; a new leader would almost certainly recalibrate priorities, personnel, and development philosophy. Sponsors, the factory workforce in Maranello, and the global fanbase would all interpret the move as a statement of intent—or of frustration.
Ferrari has not won a drivers’ title since 2007. Every leadership change raises hopes of ending that drought while carrying the risk of resetting progress. The 2026 season has shown flashes of competitiveness mixed with inconsistency. Whether the next step is an internal promotion that preserves continuity or a bold external appointment that injects new energy will reveal how impatient Ferrari’s leadership has become.
THE MOST REALISTIC BEST CHOICE
If the priority is minimising disruption while still delivering a competent, Ferrari-aligned leader, Antonello Coletta currently looks the strongest and most practical option. He already understands the company’s culture, has delivered results in a high-stakes racing environment, and would represent continuity rather than revolution. Jérôme d’Ambrosio offers a similar low-risk path. Christian Horner remains the highest-ceiling, highest-risk alternative if Ferrari decides the current trajectory is insufficient and is prepared to grant the authority he would demand. Andrea Stella sits as a compelling longer-term possibility if the timing aligns.
Vasseur himself has made clear he intends to push until the final corner of the season. Whether that proves enough to secure his position, or whether Maranello elects to begin the next chapter, will be one of the defining storylines of the remainder of 2026. For a team that measures itself only against championships, the identity of the person in the team principal chair is never a minor detail—it is the foundation on which the next era of Ferrari will be built.
