Who had the most restless night last night: Lewis Hamilton

What is notable — and what captured attention during the Baku weekend — is that he might not simply return as an investor. There is one specific team, Horner indicated, for which he would consider returning in a traditional employment capacity: Ferrari.

The potential, still theoretical at this point, of having Horner in a leadership role would present an intriguing dynamic for Hamilton, especially given their past. Although, currently, there seems to be little concrete basis for this speculation.

The long-standing Red Bull team principal is gearing up for a promotional tour for his new book, Drive, and generating buzz around high-profile connections to Ferrari serves as a strategic way to keep his name in circulation. It promotes book sales and ticket sales, irrespective of any genuine interest from Ferrari in hiring him.

Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing

On Hamilton’s side, he seemingly has no interest in this development.

When Sky Sports journalist Craig Slater pointed out on Saturday night in Baku that Horner had effectively positioned himself as a candidate for Ferrari, and asked Hamilton if he still trusted the team’s direction under Vasseur, the response was short and clear: "Yes."

It’s noteworthy that Ferrari has reached out to Horner multiple times in the past. In 2010, the aim was reportedly to entice him from Milton Keynes to Maranello as part of a package deal with Adrian Newey. The carefully crafted language in his The Times interview certainly implies that he would be interested should Ferrari ever consider parting ways with Vasseur.

Sky Germany analyst Timo Glock believes that Horner's remarks have placed Vasseur in an unnecessarily uncomfortable position: "Vasseur has revitalized Ferrari to its current standing. He has instilled structure and discipline within the team. To replace him now and initiate another round of turmoil would be strategically unsound for Ferrari."

If Ferrari were genuinely considering letting go of Vasseur, why would they hand the reins to Horner of all people?

The 52-year-old would likely demand a hefty salary — at least by the standards of team leadership — and there’s no guarantee of success either. Horner also remains a contentious figure following the accusations made against him during his final years with Red Bull. The jeers he received at the O2 Arena during the Formula 1 season-opening event in early 2025 indicated that he is still a polarizing presence among certain fans.

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Vasseur has made it clear that the speculation is becoming a distraction: "Mr. Horner is looking for a job. That is well-known. Everywhere." He added, "It's challenging to work under this atmosphere and face the same question 25 times a day. For me, and for the entire team, it disrupts our focus."

What Vasseur and Ferrari require now is exactly that: focus. A public show of support for Vasseur from Ferrari's leadership could likely alleviate the speculation. Perhaps John Elkann should consider reaching out to La Gazzetta dello Sport to clarify the situation; this would quickly put a stop to the ongoing Horner narrative.

I don’t think Hamilton is particularly troubled by Horner, anyway. There are certainly enough other concerns on his mind.

Whatever slim hope he had of becoming world champion in 2026 is now mostly theoretical. While Ferrari might eventually have the capability to design Formula 1's top car aerodynamically, bridging the gap to Mercedes in engine performance will likely take longer. Even Vasseur himself acknowledges this reality.

Meanwhile, many aspects are currently going well for Hamilton.

In Barcelona, he demonstrated that even after turning 40, he remains capable of clinching grand prix victories. He is positioned third in the world championship, holding a 20-point lead over his teammate Charles Leclerc in fifth place. His performance in 2026 has addressed some of the criticisms that followed his 2025 season.

Yet, in interviews, his public remarks often convey frustration despite the improved results.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

The cycle repeats itself week after week: during races, Hamilton communicates via radio in ways that could easily be interpreted as exasperated. Later, in front of the cameras, he spends time discussing everything that went awry, only to conclude almost casually that everything within Ferrari is perfectly okay.

Then, the following week, at the next grand prix media day, he expresses disbelief at how the journalists could have interpreted him so incorrectly.

After Baku, he expressed concerns about Ferrari's lack of top speed, noted a poor start — an area where Ferrari had performed better at the season's outset — stating that the team must not deceive itself, and pointed out that McLaren and Red Bull had made more substantial progress. He described the race as "pretty bad." On top of it all, he struggled to get the tyres up to temperature. Already on Saturday, he had voiced frustration about "these stupid tyres," labeling them "such a pain in the arse": "We need to get some decent tyres back."

Perhaps it’s just me, but Hamilton and Ferrari do not yet feel like a match made in motorsport heaven.

There is no doubt that Hamilton is one of Formula 1's most accomplished drivers.

Will there be another championship for Hamilton? Can Ferrari offer him a realistic shot at an eighth title? I remain doubtful.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari