Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner slams Toto Wolff in astonishing X-rated RANT

Toto Wolff and Christian Horner at F1 Testing — Photo: © IMAGO

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Horner slams Wolff in astonishing X-rated RANT

Christian Horner and Toto Wolff's F1 rivalry has once again bubbled to the surface

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Tuesday 26 November 2024 09:12

Christian Horner has slammed Toto Wolff in an astonishing X-rated rant after recent comments made by the Mercedes team principal.

The pair have been embroiled in an intense Formula 1 rivalry since their respective drivers went head-to-head for the 2021 world title, where the Red Bull and Mercedes team bosses often used words as their weapons during their championship fight.

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However, it was Red Bull and Max Verstappen who emerged victorious from the 2021 title fight, as Lewis Hamilton lost the championship in the cruellest circumstances in Abu Dhabi.

Fast-forward three years, and the Dutchman has just achieved his fourth world title, while Mercedes have struggled for performance, prompting Hamilton to leave for Ferrari next season.

Toto Wolff and Christian Horner's rivalry has often translated off the track

The 2021 Abu Dhabi GP controversy fuelled Wolff and Horner's rivalry further

Christian Horner reignites rivalry with F1 boss Toto Wolff

Horner and Wolff’s rivalry remains intact, with the Red Bull boss delivering a brutal rant following comments from the Mercedes team principal.

Wolff issued comments about Horner's role in an incident regarding his wife, Susie Wolff, when she was placed under investigation by the FIA over her role as F1 Academy chief - an allegation that was promptly dismissed following the support of all ten F1 teams.

But Horner has now defended his and his team's support for the F1 Academy chief, clearly baffled by Wolff's comments and accusing the Austrian of chatting 's***'.

"Toto sent me a text message at the end of last year to say thank you for standing up for Susie today and showing them that there is a red line and the teams are together. And I said ‘no problem, I said what I believe'," Horner said to the Daily Mail.

"So why he needs to go and say all that s*** this week, I have no idea. I was a little surprised to see his comments because he thanked me for his support.

"I have not said one word. I have not risen to Zak’s bait. I have not risen to Toto’s bait. I’ve had him chasing our drivers. I have had them chasing our sponsors. I have just thought 'let them get on with it'.

"I think Toto has got more than enough of his own issues to be focussed on with his own team’s performance rather than worrying about me," Horner continued.

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Toto Wolff hit out at Christian Horner for failing to support his wife during an investigation from the FIA

"In the issues that affected me at the start of the season, what I was disappointed with the most - and I have been in the sport a long time now - was the way that some of the rival teams looked to take advantage.

"When I was down, Toto came after me. So did others. They tried everything, for their own gain.

"It is a competitive business and I get it. Toto had lost his driver to Ferrari a month earlier and he was telling the world that wasn’t happening. He seemed to be the last person to find out about it.

"People use whatever tools they can. It was to be expected, I suppose, from the people involved."

Written by

Sheona Mountford - F1 Journalist

Sheona Mountford is a motorsport journalist specialising in F1. As a writer and contributor, she covers a wide range of motorsport series from F1 to F1 Academy, responsible for breaking news, live race coverage and in depth analysis of the sport and the culture around it.

View full biography

Red Bull Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Mercedes Christian Horner