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CHRISTIAN HORNER responded to Toto Wolff’s remarks, stating, “I’d rather be a terrier than a Wolff.”
The chief of Mercedes voiced his frustration at Horner on Thursday, referring to him as a “yapping little terrier” during a heated discussion involving George Russell and Max Verstappen.
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The altercation arises as it has been confirmed that Verstappen will not face any punishment from the FIA for Russell’s accusations.
During a press conference on Friday, Horner expressed his fondness for terriers, mentioning he once owned four, while playfully mocking Wolff’s surname.
Two of his terriers were even named Flavio and Bernie, presumably after former Renault chief Flavio Briatore and ex-F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone.
The 51-year-old Red Bull team leader, married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner, remarked: “I have a great appreciation for terriers; they are splendid companions.
“I had a total of four, along with a couple of Airedales, often known as the kings of terriers.
“Two were West Highland terriers, named Bernie and Flavio. One of the wonderful traits of terriers is their remarkable loyalty.
“Bernie was quite the spunky little dog, always ready to take on anyone. Flavio was more relaxed, although he did have a fondness for food.
“Frankly, is it really an insult to be called a terrier? They might be small, but they aren’t afraid to stand up to larger dogs.”
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“You know, I would definitely pick to be a terrier over a wolf.”
Horner further stirred the controversy by posting a photo of his terrier, Bernie, on Instagram shortly after.
‘Full-time menace’ Lando Norris stokes flames in Verstappen vs Russell ‘head in the wall row’ with cheeky Instagram post
The lingering conflict between Russell and Verstappen continues to overshadow the lead-up to Formula 1’s season finale.
Nevertheless, Wolff and Horner share a long-standing rivalry, providing memorable moments on the popular Netflix series Drive to Survive.
This drama rekindles memories of their fierce competition in 2021 when Lewis Hamilton narrowly missed out on an eighth world title to Verstappen in the Abu Dhabi desert.
When asked if he was concerned that Verstappen and Russell’s disagreements might spill over onto the track this weekend, Horner replied: “Not at all.
“Max is very direct. He articulates his thoughts plainly and shows exactly how he feels.
“Last weekend, he faced considerable frustration due to an unusual situation and the consequent grid penalty.
“He transformed that frustration into motivation and made an exceptional start, leading the race into the first corner and eventually securing the Grand Prix, which was the perfect response.
“There has been a significant amount of discussion surrounding this on Thursday. Considering it’s the holiday season, perhaps there’s a bit of ‘end of term blues’ in the air, but I don’t think it’ll have any effect.”
With Hamilton gearing up for his final race with Mercedes before moving to Ferrari for the 2025 season, Horner suggested that Wolff should focus his attention elsewhere.
He remarked: “The emphasis should rightfully be on what happens on the track. I mean, there’s a certain detachment; I think Toto appreciates having a reason to disfavor me.
“It’s simply one of those dynamics. I would have thought he has more critical issues to consider, especially with it being Lewis’s last race for the team.”
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“They should concentrate on celebrating Lewis’s contributions instead of fixating on other matters.”
Wolff, who interrupted Russell’s press conference on Thursday to take a jab at Horner, also accused the Red Bull principal of being too “weak” to manage Verstappen effectively.
Horner quickly fired back, stating: “Regarding Toto’s comments, I’m not taking that bait. We each manage our teams in ways that suit us.
“We’ve celebrated 122 wins. We’re responsible for 14 world titles. Clearly, we must be doing something right.”
Despite Verstappen reportedly threatening Russell by saying he would put his “f***ing head in the wall” in Qatar, he is expected to escape any additional sanctions from officials.
No probe is likely regarding the serious accusations Russell made on Thursday before the season closes in Abu Dhabi.
The 26-year-old British driver claimed that Verstappen threatened him by saying he would intentionally crash into him last weekend.
Russell has also labeled the four-time world champion a “bully,” while Verstappen has dismissed Russell as a “backstabber” and a “loser.”
Russell and Verstappen’s ongoing feud persists as they sit at opposite ends of the table during the driver’s dinner.
Many have raised eyebrows at the FIA’s inaction, especially considering their recent imposition of strict penalties for foul language.
In Singapore, Verstappen had to complete “public service” for using vulgar language about his car.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc faced a penalty for swearing in a post-race press briefing in Mexico.
Tension remains high between Russell and Verstappen as they were seated at opposite ends of the table during the driver’s dinner on Thursday night.
Lewis Hamilton hosted the dinner ahead of his last race with Mercedes, which was covered by his former teammate Valtteri Bottas.
Norris commented on Instagram: “2024 dinner! and yes, the two you’re thinking about were seated as far apart as possible.”
He followed this with a crying-laughing emoji and a smiling emoji, while Verstappen replied with a steak emoji, suggesting his beef with Russell.
Verstappen also announced he is expecting a baby with his partner Kelly Piquet, sharing: “A mini Verstappen-Piquet is on the horizon. We couldn’t be more excited about our little miracle.”
