Sept 29 (Reuters) - Ferrari sought ⁠to silence speculation around Formula One team boss ⁠Fred Vasseur, and talk of Christian Horner possibly ‌replacing him, with a statement of 'full confidence' in the Frenchman on Tuesday.

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.

"We ⁠have ‌confidence -- full confidence -- in Fred Vasseur and in his team, and we continue to do ⁠so," she said.

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.

Vasseur made ⁠clear his frustration at questions about ​the matter at last weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

"We would like to avoid that the next weekend in Malaysia ⁠will be focused only on this kind of gossip and speculation," said the spokeswoman.

Vasseur took over as Ferrari team boss in 2023 and was a key figure in ​bringing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton ⁠from Mercedes to Maranello last year.

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.

(Reporting by Alan BaldwinEditing by Christian Radnedge)