Amidst increasing speculation linking Christian Horner with Ferrari, company chairman John Elkann has given Fred Vasseur his seal of approval.

"I want to express our full confidence in our team principal, Fred Vasseur, and in the work he is carrying out together with all our colleagues at Scuderia Ferrari, the mechanics, engineers, and drivers competing this weekend in Austin," said Elkann at the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) in Washington D.C.

"I also want to reaffirm the importance of teamwork by everyone to maintain focus on the only goal that matters: always giving our very best on the track," he added.

Despite intense pressure from the Italian media, Vasseur was given a clear vote of confidence in the summer when Ferrari extended his contract, a move that came at almost exactly the same time as Horner was getting his marching orders.

Amidst claims that Horner is desperate to return to the paddock, in recent weeks the Briton, a close friend of Elkann, has been linked with the Maranello outfit.

Before Vasseur's contract was extended both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton spoke in support of him, while on Thursday the seven-time world champion claimed that the current speculation is an unhelpful distraction for the team, insisting that he would not entertain the rumours.

Horner, who is understood to have received a £75m ($100m) payoff from Red Bull cannot return to the sport until next Spring.

Of course, football (soccer) fans will be aware that public assurances of confidence in a manager usually mean the kiss of death, so for now we will all have to take Elkann at his word and hope that his comments are not merely a stay of execution.

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