Recently, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff discussed his rival team’s mindset in recent times. In early 2022, it came to light that Red Bull had exceeded the cost cap limit in 2021. Christian Horner and his team were fined $7 million and will have less time in the wind tunnel after a 10% reduction. According to Toto Wolff, the cost cap incident will affect their brand’s reputation more than their performance in the 2023 season. This cost cap incident is a lesson to learn from for every other team. On the other hand, Toto’s Red Bull counterpart, Christian Horner, believed the penalty for exceeding the cost cap was “draconian.” Albeit, some fans felt the punishment was not enough.
In a recent interview, Toto Wolff commented on the incident that the criticism the Red Bull team faced would scare other teams to commit the same mistake. Nobody can think of damaging their reputation like this. The Mercedes boss expressed his sympathy for the parent company of Horner’s F1 team. He added that the exceeding cost cap incident could jeopardize the mother company’s name and fame, which has a pretty good status in the market.
How Can Mercedes Benefit From The Penalties On Red Bull?
Despite Toto Wolff does not emphasize that these penalties on Red Bull may work in his team’s favor in the upcoming season. But it will surely be there in his mind to get his team ready for the upcoming season. The Silver Arrows will have a double advantage over Red Bull regarding wind tunnel time. Considering two factors, they are supposed to get additional time after they won third place in the constructor’s championship last year, and the current champions will have 10% less time.
These can help the Brackley-based team regain its hegemony on Formula One. They have lost it for two years to Red Bull. After the Dutch champion, Max Verstappen won it back-to-back in 2021 and 2022. Red Bull is in total control of the game as they have won the constructor’s championship in Austin, Texas, at the United States Grand Prix. And they have been the driver’s champion for two years. In 2022 another Red Bull racer Sergio Perez came very close to the second spot at the driver’s championship. Ultimately he was defeated by Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and secured third place.
Toto Wolff Calls Christian Horner Obsessed!
The British journalist Matthew Syed spoke to the team principal of the Silver Arrows, Mr. Toto Wolff. He feels that as a leader Toto is ambitious, confident, and suave but also likable. But Syed could also think that underneath Mr. Wolff is that same insecure boy in Vienna, Austria. He was someone who was just trying to fit in.
Toto Wolff and Matthew Syed went on to have an extensive discussion about the last season’s disappointment, especially after what happened in Abu Dhabi. They talked about his relationship with his Red Bull Counterpart, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner. The Leader of the Silver Arrows proceeds to say, “I’m living in his brain for free.” Looks like Toto tried to explain Horner’s obsession with him.
