They didn’t always see eye to eye and were often opponents: Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff comments on Christian Horner’s departure from Red Bull
The 2025 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps will be the first Formula 1 race weekend where Christian Horner will not be responsible for Red Bull’s race operations as team boss. But how much will Horner be missed in the paddock?
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was asked this question in an interview with Sky – and not without reason: Wolff and Horner were often opponents on the racetrack in the past and did not always see eye to eye.
But now Wolff is paying tribute to his former team boss colleague, saying: “Christian was someone who was controversial, polarizing, and not soft-spoken. That was good for entertainment value, and from that perspective he will be missed. His track record speaks for itself.”
Under Horner’s leadership, Red Bull has developed from a backmarker racing team into a top Formula 1 team. Both from 2010 with Sebastian Vettel and from 2021 with Max Verstappen, Red Bull achieved a four-year period of dominance in the world championship under team boss Horner, interrupted only by Mercedes’ successes under Wolff.
That’s why Wolff says: “Christian was one of the most important people [in the paddock]. But I don’t think he’s gone forever. He could reappear here in some other role.“
That seems to be exactly what worries Wolff. He adds, presumably jokingly: ”I have to be careful, because he might turn up at the FIA, and then I’ll really be in deep shit!”
No signs yet for Horner’s future
What Wolff seems to be hinting at is that the old rivalry from the racetrack could turn into a tit-for-tat if Horner were to land an influential position at the world motorsport governing body.
However, there has been no mention of this so far: Horner’s plans after his sudden departure from Red Bull in the middle of the 2025 season are unknown.
However, Horner has been in contact with other teams in the recent past: Ferrari, among others, is said to have expressed interest in recruiting the Englishman for its Formula 1 racing team. A move to the FIA did not seem to be an option for Horner until now.
