Ex-F1 Driver: Horner Would Be the Perfect Ferrari Team Principal

Marc Surer believes Christian Horner would be the perfect team principal for Ferrari. However, the former F1 driver adds a crucial condition: Horner must be allowed to bring his own staff to Maranello.

Why it matters:

Ferrari has been waiting for a championship for years, and Surer sees a leadership problem. He argues that since Jean Todt left, the team has lacked a strong leader who can make decisive calls. With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in the same garage, managing personalities has become even more critical.

The details:

• Surer pointed to the Dutch Grand Prix as an example of weak leadership. Hamilton and Leclerc were on different strategies, and when Hamilton caught his teammate, Ferrari asked Leclerc to pit. Leclerc initially refused and came in a lap later.
• The Swiss believes Fred Vasseur should have been firmer: 'I am the boss and I tell you what to do.'
• Surer contrasts Vasseur with Toto Wolff, who he says makes clear decisions within Mercedes.
• Horner could bring that authority back to Ferrari, but only if he gets the freedom to assemble his own team and bring key personnel from Red Bull.
• Surer recalls Ferrari's most successful era with Michael Schumacher, when Jean Todt and Ross Brawn were brought in from outside Italy. 'If Christian goes there alone, he is lost,' he warns.

What's next:

Horner has been without an F1 role since leaving Red Bull, and speculation about his return continues. Whether Ferrari would give him the control he needs remains an open question, but Surer is convinced that with the right structure, Horner could restore the Scuderia's winning culture.