Formula One Team Principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner have been arch-rivals since the turbo-hybrid era started in 2014. Red Bull boss was enjoying his team’s hegemony on the grid until Mercedes took over the dominating power in 2014. The Austrian team won four consecutive world championships with Sebastian Vettel from 2010 to 2013. However, the German manufacturer witnessed success like no other team in history from 2014, with Lewis Hamilton steering the wheel that continued till 2021’s constructor championship.
In the last two years, Red Bull reigns come into power yet again, with Max Verstappen steering the wheel. However, in the period of seven years, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff became the most successful team principal in the history of Formula One. And Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull, is a close second to Wolff. Hence, it is understandable the rival energy that is there between them. Christian Horner wants to break Toto Wolff’s success record. On the other hand, the Mercedes boss wants to get back to winning ways again. This results in some transfer of knick-knacks from both the bosses time and again.
Toto Wolff And Christian Horner Shared A Joke In Miami
Recently, in a press conference in Miami leading to the Grand Prix, the three bosses of Mercedes, Red Bull, and Alpha Tauri were present. There, yet another glimpse of rivalry between Toto Wolff and Christian Horner was notable. The two bosses expressed two different approaches to the introduction of three different formats of F1 racing. According to Horner, these new rules surely need to improve. The Red Bull boss feels they need to let the car cool down a bit. He does not think it is ideal to change the car after a practice session. However, his rival Toto Wolff replied that “I’m a conservative guy. I like the regular practice sessions on Saturday and the final race on Sunday. But we must try things for the best possible entertainment.”
Toto asked whether Franz Tost or Christian Horner is the longest standing team principal and Horner replied that it‘s him.
— tami. (@Vetteleclerc) May 5, 2023
Toto: "So you are next in line to go.
Would make life easier."
😂 pic.twitter.com/4CQ4cQEbdu
Wolff further mentioned that he talked with the CEO Of F1 Group, Stefano Domenicali, about keeping the traditional approach to the races as well as trying something new. In that press conference, Wolff asked Christian who has been the team principal for the longest time between the three of them. To that, Horner replied, Franz Tost of Alpha Tauri has been a longer boss than him. However, the Mercedes boss jokingly replied, “So you will leave next. It would make my work a lot easier.” The reason for this joke is that Tost recently declared that he would leave Alpha Tauri after the end of this season. Franz Tost decided to walk away after staying with the team since 2006, the day of Alpha Tauri’s inception. Hence in a way, Wolff expressed his desire to see Horner walking in a similar direction soon enough to Tost.
Mercedes And Red Bull Having Opposite Lucks On The Grid Currently
The German team has been facing real problematic issues because of their car for the last two years. Boss Toto Wolff is clearly upset because, for the last two years, his team has failed to give Lewis Hamilton the perfect car to win his eighth championship. On the other hand, in the Miami Grand Prix this season, Red Bull enjoyed another success with yet another one-two finish. All the races this season up till now have witnessed Red Bull becoming victorious. Max Verstappen won three, and Sergio Perez won a couple of races.