Ferrari back team boss Fred Vasseur amid Christian Horner speculation

[p]Ferrari's head of communications Maria ‌Conti told reporters in a virtual ‌press conference that the Italian team wanted ‌to avoid the 'gossip' about Vasseur continuing over into this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix in ‌Malaysia.[/p][p]"[b]We have confidence -- full confidence -- ⁠in Fred ‌Vasseur and in his team, and we continue ​to do so[/b]," she said.[/p][p]The speculation was fuelled by comments made ​by former Red Bull principal Horner in an interview with the Times newspaper ⁠in which he ​said Ferrari were the only team he would consider joining without an ownership stake on offer.[/p][p]Vasseur made clear his ‌frustration at questions about the matter at last weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.[/p][p]"[b]We would like to avoid that the next weekend in Malaysia will be focused only on this kind of gossip and speculation[/b]," said the spokeswoman.[/p][p]Vasseur took over as Ferrari team boss in ‌2023 and was a key figure ​in bringing seven-time world champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hamilton-lewis/tI5Vpe1h/"]Lewis Hamilton[/a] ‌from Mercedes to Maranello last year.[/p][p]Ferrari are second in the constructors' standings, 160 points behind Mercedes and 72 clear of champions McLaren. The Italian ⁠team last ⁠won an F1 ‌title in 2008.[/p]