Christian Horner riled Toto Wolff’s “self-doubt” in Netflix’s Drive To Survive: “Really in the s*** if Lewis Hamilton retires”
The Red Bull team principal was speaking to Netflix’s Drive To Survive in reaction to the explosive meeting ꦇwhere he rowed with the Mercedes boss.
Wolff demanded new rules to protect against porpoising at last year’s F1 Canadian Grand Prix but Horner shot back𝐆 by insisting it was a problem for Mercedes to fix themselves, in a dynamic scene captured by the cameras.
Horner was also filmed inside the paddock ꦛdiscussing Hamilton’s future: “If hജe did retire? Who on earth would they take?
“That would drop them r𓆏eally in the s*** if he decides𝐆 to retire.”
Horner then said in a Netflix interview: “Wh🍨at are Toto’s𒁃 options if Lewis were to retire? It leaves them pretty exposed.”
Hamilton, 38, is expected to pe🌌n a new Mercedes contract until ꧑at least the end of 2024.
Horner said about Wolff’s anger iꦐn the team principals’ meeting: “He got himself pretty wound up. It’s a horrible feeling to sud𝓡denly only be a part of the scenery, and not competing.
꧙“And that takes an adjustment. It can cause self-doubt, and emotions that haven’t been prevalent. You start to see cracks.”
Then-Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto added about Wolff with a⛦ cryptic comment: “Maybe he was under pressure for their performance at t♌he time. Maybe he was under pressure because he promised something to someone. I don’t know.”
Mercedes endured a horrible 2022, winning just one race via 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell, and never gave Hamilton the machinery to challenge 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen who, months earlier, controversially pipped him at the 2021♈ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Horne꧟r said aꦓbout Mercedes’ struggles: “Each team, you could see, were making progress. But Mercedes were making a mess.
“It is a different⛦ landscape for Toto that he isn’t used to, since he came into F1, where suddenly he’s on the back foot.
“Let’s not forget Merc🃏ed♚es annihilated the opposition. Destroyed everybody.”
Horner theꦐn burst out laughing: “Finally, you start to see probl🌟ems. Everybody is quite enjoying it!”
Ho🗹rner and Wolff and their respective teams with renew their rivalry in 2023 when the season begins next week at the F1 Bahra🐈in Grand Prix.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade🏅 covering everything from Ameri♔can sports, to football, to F1.
