Toto Wolff believes that Christian Horner’s 20-year stint with Red Bull will not be his final job within the F1 paddock, predicting that the 51-year-old could land himself a new role with the FIA. The two team principals shared a decade-long rivalry that generated endless golden moments and media tussles.
Horner was sacked out of the blue after the British Grand Prix, and with the on-track action ramping up at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Red Bull has yet to confirm the reason for their decision. In his place arrives Laurent Mekies, who steps up from his team principal role with Racing Bulls. According to Wolff, Horner should be back in the paddock before long. The man who delivered a combined 14 World Championships with Red Bull has been linked with both Ferrari and Alpine, but his former arch-rival believes that he could bounce back with a role at the FIA.
“In a way, yes [I will miss him],” the Mercedes boss told Sky Sports F1 after free practice in Belgium. “He was one of the main casts. I don’t think he’s gone forever; he could pop up in some other function.
“I need to be careful. He could be rocking up in the FIA, and then you know I’m really in the s***. 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.”
At the end of the interview, pundit and interviewer Natalie Pinkham was forced to issue an apology for the team principal’s X-rated language.
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Horner’s next destination wasn’t the only hot topic that Wolff was forced to discuss as Pinkham and fellow pundit Martin Brundle put the Silver Arrows’ boss on the spot. The Austrian also offered his true thoughts about George Russell’s decision to let the media know that Mercedes were talking with reigning world champion Max Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring last month.
“He triggered the media avalanche,” Wolff continued. “Sometimes I’m maybe naive, but I try to be transparent with the drivers, and I said ‘Listen, I have the obligation to explore what Max is doing in doing in the next few years’.
“And I think he came out with it to show that I’m aware what’s going on and there’s nothing happening behind my back, and I’m fine with that. I’m optimistic he [Russell] will sleep well over the summer break.”