Toto Wolff has been a very successful team principal of the Mercedes F1 team. He was able to rule in F1 with his team from 2014 to 2021. It is because no other team was able to win a title during that period. For eight years straight, Mercedes ruled the grid. But the star driver that made the dream come true for Mercedes has been Lewis Hamilton. Along with Wolff, Hamilton joined the Silver Arrows back in 2013. Later, from 2014 to 2021, Hamilton won six titles between those years. But lately, Christian Horner, the Red Bull boss, created a stir, revealing that Hamilton wanted to join Red Bull several times. However, Lewis Hamilton denied these allegations.
The seven-time champion said in reply that Red Bull contacted him first. Moreover, the rumor surrounding the possibility of Verstappen and Hamilton teaming up did not sit well with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. After Horner’s interview with the UK’s Daily Mail created a stir, Hamilton mentioned it was just Christian stirring things up. Moreover, Hamilton is sure that nobody from his team approached Horner or anybody in Red Bull. But it was Horner, as per Hamilton, who wanted to “Meet up” with him.
Toto Wolff Criticizes Horner For Trying To Get Some Media Attention
Lately, on Thursday, Toto Wolff told the media in Abu Dhabi, including PlanetF1.com, that it is hard for him to understand what drives the Red Bull boss. Adding to that, Toto Wolff mentioned Hamilton informed him immediately after Horner inquired about his availability for a seat. But the Mercedes boss further said, “It was not about a seat…it was just blah.” Moreover, Toto Wolff mentioned Horner should be happy and humble after winning the title. He just doesn’t get why Horner is trying to stir things up instead of enjoying the title win.
That’s why Toto Wolff is wondering, “What’s going on up there?” Moreover, Wolff dared Horner to make comments on the 2021 Abu Dhabi race, which is completely off-limits. On top of that, Toto Wolff wonders why these allegations are happening at this point. He questions the timing of these allegations to understand the ulterior motives of his rival. Moreover, Toto Wolff criticized Christian Horner, saying that he wanted a little media attention mentioning Hamilton’s name.
Can Mercedes Help Lewis Hamilton Beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen To Win His Eighth Title?
Two years into the turbo-hybrid era, Hamilton missed the opportunity to win the title – in 2016 & 2021. However, the loss in 2021 can prove to be costly for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton both as Red Bull and Max Verstappen took center stage ever since. It was an epic season when the Brackley team won the constructor title, but the Dutch driver of the rival team won the Driver’s World Championship.
Moreover, Lewis Hamilton missed his opportunity to win the coveted eighth title. Now, it is not yet over for the seven-time champion on paper. But Mercedes is nowhere near Red Bull at the present day. Moreover, the Austrian team has won back-to-back titles in a dominating style. It will take a lot of time for Toto Wolff and his team to catch up with Red Bull.
