Christian Horner has revealed the message Mercedes F1 crew principal Toto Wolff despatched him after receiving the ax from Crimson Bull.
Horner was sacked as Crimson Bull’s CEO and crew principal after final yr’s British Grand Prix, ending a 20-year reign wherein he led the crew to eight F1 drivers’ championships and 6 constructors’ world titles.
In his closing years as Crimson Bull supervisor, Horner had a fierce rivalry with Mercedes rival Wolff, and tensions have been excessive within the intense 2021 title race between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
Horner and Wolff had a number of wars of phrases throughout this era, usually insulting one another till the 2022 regulation adjustments noticed McLaren emerge as Crimson Bull’s largest competitor.
In Netflix’s new collection Drive to Survive, launched this Friday, Horner reads out textual content messages she obtained from Wolfe within the aftermath of his stunning firing.
toto wolff and christian horner
“I did not know what to say, as a result of on one stage you have been an actual asshole. However however, this sport can be dropping one in every of its most important characters,” Wolff wrote.
“Who ought to I battle? And, as you at all times say, ‘I like to hate’? Wolff and Horner have received a mixed 14 of the final 15 world championships. Not a nasty factors statistic.”
Horner replied to Wolff: “I’ve cherished locking horns with you guys through the years. So thanks for the rivalry, the competitors, and the needle. Because the stats present, nobody else may even come near it. I want you all the very best for the longer term. PS You want a haircut.”
In the identical episode, Horner firmly locations the blame for Crimson Bull’s departure on Helmut Marko and Crimson Bull GmbH managing director Oliver Mintzlaff.
“It was fairly sudden. I did not have an opportunity to say a correct goodbye. I by no means imagined I would be on this place. In fact, once you get that sandwich delivered to you, your instant response can be, ‘Fuck you.’ I used to be robbed of one thing that wasn’t my alternative, and it was very valuable to me,” Horner advised Netflix’s cameras.
Horner was then requested if he thought Verstappen had one thing to do along with his downfall and replied: “His father was by no means a giant fan of mine. He is been outspoken about me. However I do not suppose Verstappen was in any means accountable. I believe it was a call made by Oliver Mintzlaff with Helmut Marko advising him from the sidelines.”
“Finally, I believe issues modified inside the enterprise, inside the group. After the founder handed away and Dietrich (Mateschitz) handed away, I used to be most likely thought of too controlling.”
