Toto Wolff pours cold water on a Christian Horner return over ‘repercussions’
· Yahoo Sports
Ever since his dismissal at Red Bull, rumors have persisted over a potential return to Formula 1 from former team principal Christian Horner.
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Now one of his former rivals is pouring cold water on that idea, due to “repercussions” from his time on the grid.
In an interview with the Press Association, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff addressed the idea of a Horner return, stating that he is of “two minds” on the topic.
“I am in two minds about it,” outlined Wolff. “The sport is missing personalities. And his personality was clearly very controversial and that is good for the sport. I said to [Ferrari team principal] Fred Vasseur that it needs the good, the bad, and the ugly. And it is now only the good and the ugly left. The bad is gone.”
You, dear reader, can decide who Wolff believes is the “good” and the “ugly” between him and the Ferrari boss.
“He has broken quite a lot of glass, and these things have repercussions in our microcosm. When you say things… but that is what he has done all his life, and that is what he knows best,” continued Wolff.
Since his dismissal at Red Bull, Horner has been linked to other teams on the grid. In recent days reports surfaced that Lawrence Stroll approached Horner about a move to Aston Martin, although F1 journalist Andrew Benson at BBC Sportnoted that Aston Martin managing technical partner — and former colleague of Horner — Adrian Newey was opposed to the idea.
Another potential option for Horner comes at Alpine, as that team is rumored to be selling a minority stake in the operation. Horner’s name has been linked to that potential sale, as has Wolff’s current team, Mercedes.
Wolff dismissed the idea that his comments were related to that potential sale.
“Us looking at that stake [in Alpine] is in no connection with Christian,” Wolff said. “And the idea that there is a rivalry between Christian and me around who buys an Alpine stake is made up. It would be quite sad if that was a consideration of doing such an investment or not. We are looking at it from different angles, and we haven’t come to any conclusions. We want to know whether it makes sense.”
Horner also outlined how he might find it difficult to “share objectives” with his former rival.
And while pointing to their competitive rivalry, he also noted that Horner has accomplished a great deal in the sport.
“Would I consider that he could ever be an ally or someone that shares objectives? I don’t think so,” Wolff added. “But even when I had the biggest frustration and anger with him, you need to remind yourself that even your worst enemy has a best friend so there must be some goodness.
“If there wasn’t that competitive rivalry over so many years, and if there was more water down the river, I am sure I could have had hung [out] with him over dinner and a had a laugh. Over those years it was just too intense, too fierce, and things happened which even today I cannot comprehend why he has done them.
“I certainly don’t wish him bad. And we need to give each other credit. There are not many team principals who have done what he has done. I see a situation that whatever happens, whatever outcomes there may be, whether he comes back to Formula 1 or not, I am at ease with it.”