Source: Official Team Post via X
Jock Clear Backs Vasseur as Horner Clarifies Ferrari Ambitions
Jock Clear supports Fred Vasseur's leadership at Ferrari amidst speculation about his future. Meanwhile, Christian Horner clarifies his stance on potentially joining Ferrari.
Amid whispers that Fred Vasseur might be on his way out as Ferrari's team principal, Jock Clear, a former senior performance engineer at Ferrari, has come to his defense. Clear insists that the team is "in quite a good place right now," even as rumors swirl about Christian Horner's interest in a potential move to Maranello.
Ferrari has seen a better F1 2026 season compared to their winless 2025, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc securing race victories. However, progress has been somewhat stagnant since Leclerc's win at the British Grand Prix back in July. Reports suggest that Ferrari is considering a leadership change by the end of the season, though the team has publicly affirmed its confidence in Vasseur.
Interestingly, these rumors coincided with Horner, the former Red Bull team principal, expressing that a Ferrari role would be tempting. However, Jock Clear, who spent a decade with Ferrari, remains optimistic about the team's direction under Vasseur's leadership, noting their significant improvement from the previous year.
Clear commented, "I have never worked with Christian, so it’s difficult to say if his leadership style would suit Ferrari. But certainly, his wealth of knowledge and proven track record suggest he knows what it takes to win. I think Ferrari are actually in quite a good place right now."
Vasseur himself seems resigned to whatever decision the Ferrari hierarchy might make, stating, "It’s my life, my business. What can I do, what can I say?" He added, "I just try to do my best to push the team, to raise them to be motivated, focus on what is better today."
As for Horner, he's been linked to a potential interest in a team ownership role, similar to Toto Wolff's position at Mercedes. Horner has been part of a group interested in purchasing a stake in the Alpine team, but he remains non-committal about returning to F1 unless the right opportunity arises.
In a Guardian interview, Horner clarified that while Ferrari is an iconic brand, he is more interested in opportunities that involve ownership. "Fred Vasseur is an experienced guy. He’s done a decent job," Horner said, emphasizing that his previous comments about Ferrari were taken out of context.
Horner concluded, "I would never go back just to take part," hinting that any return to F1 would be under conditions that align with his ambitions and values.