The Formula 1 world has witnessed a surprising turn in the once fiery rivalry between Toto Wolff and Christian Horner. Known for their intense animosity, especially during the heated 2021 world championship battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, the pair were recently spotted in a smiling embrace in the Abu Dhabi paddock. This unexpected display of camaraderie has sparked questions: Are these two adversaries turning into friends?
Wolff, the Mercedes boss, shed light on the moment in an interview with the Austrian newspaper Osterreich. “That was when we were leaving the paddock,” he explained. “There was a nice group around Mark Mateschitz, his mother, and a few people I know well. I came along and had a funny exchange with Geri (Halliwell), and that’s when the photo came about.”
When pressed to clarify if this interaction signified a newfound friendship with Red Bull team boss Horner, Wolff was cautious. “Friends?” he responded. “The last handshake might have been in 2021 before the last race. But you do have to recognize your competitor’s performance. I have respect for what the Red Bull team has achieved,” he insisted.
Wolff also candidly discussed Mercedes’ current focus. Acknowledging the challenges they faced, he admitted, “By April at the latest it was clear to us that our extravagant concept with the slim side pods was wrong, and we had to change the design. After that, we had some results, but the car was just too unstable.”
Looking ahead to 2024, Wolff remarked that predicting Mercedes’ ability to beat Red Bull would require “a crystal ball.” He recalled his early 2023 prediction where he speculated Red Bull and Verstappen might win every grand prix of the season. “Thank God I was wrong,” he smiled. “At least they didn’t perform in Singapore. But ultimately, the rest of the car-driver combinations couldn’t even come close, let alone hope for victories. They were in their own galaxy. And all logical arguments suggest that they will be very strong again in 2024.”
