The one battle that goes off the track simultaneously in Formula One is that of Toto Wolff and Christian Horner. Both the principals of the top teams play a significant role in creating controversies about Formula One. Tensions between the bosses keep on increasing, the same as happens with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Neither Toto Wolff nor Christian Horner leaves a single chance to criticize each other. Looking at the intensity of their rivalry, one can say that the bosses hate each other. But in reality, the case is different. Surprisingly, beyond sports, Horner has no problem with Toto Wolff.
Recently, in an interview, Red Bull’s principal claimed that it is just the spirit of competition that they have. “There is nothing personal anyway,” Horner said, “Toto is Toto”; he has been a great boss and done a phenomenal job with Mercedes. Horner respects Wolff for what he has achieved so far.
He said, “Wolff belongs from a very different background than me, he is very much from a financial background.” Somehow it is very easy to pull his chain, which sometimes affects him too. Horner reckons that in 2021 they had a very intense battle. It was the first time that both had seen such a situation. Everyone spotted the way Toto behaved with Mercedes’s loss.
Despite Any Personal Hard Feelings, Toto Wolff and Christain Horner Never Fails To Criticize
Referring to Wolff’s outraged reactions, Horner said, “It is very interesting to see how people react when they smash headphones [like Toto Wolff did in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of 2021] and so on. You can see that you got to them [that you beaten the other].
Even after claiming the fact that there is nothing between him and Toto Wolff, Christian Horner tends to criticize him for his actions. And, as the rivalry goes both ways, Toto Wolff also comes to take part in criticizing other F1 teams’ bosses, let’s say, especially Horner. Speaking to Mile Square, the Mercedes boss said, “There many people in W One that are just one-trick ponies that run teams very well. There are no two ways about it.” However, Wolff thinks that one needs to have an ulterior focus on what he does.
Toto Wolff believes that a principal of a team can do well only when he is able to put his own role in his own team. They should have a wider perspective of the world. The Austrian explains that in his 20-year background in finance, he has got a lot of experience. It has not only helped him in developing himself but also shaped the entire Mercedes team into a commercial operation. However, the Silver Arrows is not yet completed; they are still learning. Wolff believes that he is still 49 plus one, and a lot of trajectories in the future await him.
As a matter of fact, or say luck, Mercedes, despite being the most expensive team, succeeded in managing the cost cap budget. But Red Bull failed to be under the cap and faced serious consequences in the form of a cost cap penalty.