Toto Wolff singled out as a "pantomime dame" as Christian Horner hits back

Mexico City Grand Prix

Wolff singled out as a "pantomime dame" as Horner hits back

Horner had been labelled a "protagonist" by his Mercedes counterpart

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Friday 5 November 2021 20:59

Christian Horner has hit back in the latest war of words between himself and Toto Wolff by suggesting the Mercedes team principal could play a "pantomime dame".

The Red Bull team principal was responding to comments made by Wolff in the lead up to the Mexico City Grand Prix where the Austrian labelled Horner a "protagonist in a pantomime" after a season of jibes from both parties.

Asked for his response to the comments, Horner said: "We all know that Toto has a lot to say. I was quite flattered actually, being called a protagonist.

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"If you look at what the definition of that means, you also need an antagonist to have a protagonist and one could say that perhaps Toto fills that role pretty well.

"If it were a pantomime, maybe a pantomime dame role might suit him.

"But it is all about what goes on on track and I think it is a great competition between the teams. It is no holds barred, pit wall against pit wall, driver against driver, engine supplier against engine supplier and chassis against chassis.

"It is fantastic. We are loving it and occasionally you are going to get some flak thrown at you but I take it with a pinch of salt and sometimes, even as a compliment."

Talk on track has "way more weight" than noise off track - Horner

The two team principals have traded barbed comments all season, with the race for the championship as intense off track as it has been on it.

Red Bull has endured sledging throughout its time in F1, being branded as just an "energy drinks company" in its early years before more focused digs such as Wolff's "windbag" jibe towards Horner in Baku earlier this year.

On the needle between the two, Horner insisted: "To be honest with you, as far as we are concerned, it is all noise. It all depends on what you do on the track and if you can do your talking on the track, that has way more weight and value.

"Toto, he likes to throw in a comment here or there and that is part of the needle, that is part of the sport and he has got a lot at stake.

"He is going for an eighth world championship with his driver and we are going for a first with Max and to add to the titles we have already won.

"Formula 1 is a competition and as the pressure builds, you see people react to pressure in different ways. We are at the business end of that championship now so you can feel the tension.

"That will only grow the longer this goes on so if Toto wants to make a comment or two, I am fine with that.

"It is pantomime season coming up anyway so it is what it is."