Horner claims Ferrari switch rumours are untrue

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has shrugged off speculation linking him to the Ferrari Formula 1 team.

Autosport understands Ferrari chairman John Elkann is a big admirer of Horner, who guided Red Bull to two dominant spells with Sebastian Vettel and then Max Verstappen. And it has been suggested that Elkann has been trying to poach him on several occasions in recent years.

Having been at the helm of Red Bull since its inception in 2005, Horner most recently signed a contract extension in 2021 that is set to run until the end of 2026.

But when quizzed at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Horner dismissed any notion that he is willing to trade Red Bull for Ferrari any time soon.

“Look, of course, it’s always flattering to be associated with other teams, but my commitment is 100% with Red Bull,” Horner said. “It always has been and certainly will be for the long term.

“There’s a bunch of speculation, as always in this business, about people coming here, going there, whatever. And I think people in the team know exactly what the situation is.

“My Italian is worse than Flavio [Briatore’s] English. So, how on earth would that work?”

Former ART and Sauber man Fred Vasseur took over Ferrari’s team boss role ahead of the 2023 season, guiding the Scuderia to second in the constructors’ championship last year. The Italian squad is currently fourth in the standings.

Ahead of this season Elkann and Vasseur lured seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to the team to partner Charles Leclerc, as the Maranello squad bids to get back on top of F1 under the series’ all-new technical regulations coming in 2026.