Horner buries feud with Wolff to hail "courage" to speak out about mental health issues

Ian Parkes
Saturday 19 March 2022 10:39

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has hailed Toto Wolff's "courage" and "confidence" for speaking out on the mental health issues he has suffered over the years.

In a revealing interview with The Times, Mercedes team principal Wolff was forthright and honest in explaining he had been seeing a psychiatrist since 2004, had undergone 500 hours of therapy and that he had suffered from depression.

Despite the animosity that has existed between Wolff and Horner over the years, at times boiling over as was the case last season, the latter expressed empathy for the former's situation.

"All credit to Toto for having the courage to talk about his issues with mental health," said Horner.

"There is much more a spotlight on it these days, and it is a business we are acutely aware of and something we're looking to be pro-active on.

"I'm fortunate I haven't had issues personally but I've had friends who have suffered as a result of mental health issues.

"It is an important topic and it is very good to highlight it, and to talk about it is a positive thing.

"As I say, all credit to Toto for having the confidence to talk about his own personal issues."

Wolff speaks of his "superpower"

As to the reaction to his interview, and the possibility of breaking down the stigma of mental health in motorsport, Wolff said: "I'm always someone who has been open.

"It's not like the flavour of the month to talk about your own suffering in terms of mental health.

"But it is time now that for people who are perceived in having it all...we know in Formula 1, with the lifestyle, winning a few races and championships.

"I remember when I was younger, I saw these people and thought they are not having those issues.

"There has been a big community around professional sportspeople and I've come out to show that us, as business people and entrepreneurs, are no different to anybody else.

"What I wanted to do is to encourage, to give hope, to seek help, work on it and not see it as a stigma of dysfunctionality, of feeling inadequate but on the contrary, it is a superpower.

"It's no different to diabetes or any other illness that is stigmatised as it is."