Wolff: Horner could rock up in the FIA then I'm really in the sh!t

Friday, 25 July 2025 at 21:52

Toto Wolff has admitted that his nemesis Christian Horner’s dismissal from his operational role at Red Bull marks the end of a significant chapter in Formula 1, but warned the former team boss may yet return to the paddock in a different role, perhaps in a place the Mercedes boss would rather he didn’t!

“In a way, yes,” Wolff said when asked if he would miss Horner. “He was one of the main casts. I don't think he's gone forever, he could pop up in some other function.”

Half-joking, the Mercedes team boss added: “I need to be careful, he could rock up in the FIA, then I'm really in the sh!t.”

While Wolff and Horner have been fierce rivals for over a decade, the Austrian acknowledged Horner’s presence added to the drama of the sport. “He was someone that was controversial, polarising and not soft-washed. That was good from the entertainment factor, and from that perspective, he will be missed. His track record speaks for itself.”

Meanwhile, Wolff rejected any suggestion that his open pursuit of Max Verstappen, or his public admission of talks with the Dutchman’s camp, had anything to do with Horner’s dismissal: “No. There is much more in the background that we probably don't know with Red Bull.

"Looking after drivers, in my position as team principal of Mercedes, I need to explore what Max is going to do in the next few years, not only next year," revealed Wolff.

Horner vs Wolff: A rivalry that defines modern Formula 1

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While Verstappen’s future has become a hot topic following the internal turmoil at Red Bull, Wolff believes the Dutchman will ultimately follow the performance: “I think drivers will always seek the quickest car, much more than any monetary incentives. It's about the quickest car and analysing that. That's what Max and all the others will do.”

Horner and Wolff are two of Formula 1’s most successful team principals. Horner, leading Red Bull from 2005 to 2025, secured 6 Constructors’ Championships and 8 Drivers’ Championships (4 with Sebastian Vettel, 4 with Max Verstappen), amassing 124 Grand Prix wins.

Wolff, heading Mercedes since 2013, achieved 8 Constructors’ Championships and 7 Drivers’ Championships, primarily with Lewis Hamilton, totalling 117 Grand Prix victories.

Both transformed their teams into powerhouses, but Wolff’s Mercedes dominated the hybrid era, while Horner’s Red Bull excelled in earlier regulations and recent resurgence. Their rivalry defines modern F1.