Christian Horner opens up about departure from Red Bull
Christian Horner has revealed a heartfelt exchange with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff during his dramatic departure from Red Bull, reports BritPanorama.
The 52-year-old former team principal was removed from the team he had led for two decades and has remained silent since his dismissal just 48 hours after last July’s British Grand Prix. In his first media appearance since leaving the championship-winning outfit, Horner discussed the messages exchanged between the two rivals.
Wolff’s message struck a balance between candour and admiration. He wrote: “I didn’t know what to say, because on one side you’ve been a real a***hole. But on the other hand, the sport will miss one of its main protagonists.” Wolff further remarked, “Who should I fight? And ‘love to hate’, as you always said?,” referencing their long-standing rivalry, with the two having collectively secured 14 of the last 15 world championships.
Horner responded warmly, stating, “I’ve loved locking horns with you all these years. So thank you for the rivalry, the competition and the needle. No one else even came close, as the statistics point out. I wish you all the best for the future. ps You need a haircut.”
Under Horner’s leadership, Red Bull secured six constructors’ titles and eight drivers’ championships, with notable contributions from Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Speaking on his exit, he added: “I feel a real sense of loss and hurt. It was all rather sudden. I didn’t really get a chance to say a proper goodbye.”
The relationship between Horner and Wolff became one of Formula 1’s defining narratives, characterised by a decade of intense competition and public clashes. Their exchanges often turned personal, with Wolff once labelling Horner a “yapping little terrier” while Horner accused the Austrian of “stirring s**t up.”
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix epitomised their rivalry, with Wolff recently criticising Horner for refusing to acknowledge that the controversial title decider was “unjust.” Despite years of feuding, the pair have maintained contact since Horner’s exit. Wolff has admitted to feeling somewhat “lonely” on the grid without his longstanding adversary, referring to Horner as a “great enemy” and one of the sport’s “old dinosaurs.”
With Horner’s exit, Wolff is now the longest-serving team principal in Formula 1, having led Mercedes since 2013.
In the ever-evolving world of Formula 1, rivalries shape narratives. The Horner-Wolff dynamic, both combative and cordial, serves as a stark reminder of how intertwined competition and camaraderie can be in this high-octane sport.
