formula 1
Taunts between team bosses: Wolff versus Horner
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was annoyed. photo
© Bradley Collyer/Press Association/dpa
The Mercedes boss doesn’t hold back. He says what he thinks of his Red Bull colleague’s statements about an alleged request from Formula 1 superstar Hamilton’s environment.
One wonders why such a story came up in the last race, said Wolff on the Sky channel. He had previously advised Horner, who had a team that won practically everything this year, to be humble.
Horner wanted to get a bit of media attention by mentioning Hamilton’s name, Wolff continued on Sky. “If he needs that, then he should do it,” emphasized the visibly annoyed boss of the German works team, for which Hamilton has been driving since 2013. He extended his contract in August of this year until the end of 2025.
Horner said in the British Daily Mail that there had been several discussions over the years about a possible move for Hamilton. “They’ve asked a few times. The last time they asked if there was interest was at the beginning of the year.”
Horner: Never had serious discussions with Hamilton
Horner also spoke about allegedly serious discussions between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari boss John Elkann. The impression arose that Hamilton had sounded out the situation with the competition before signing his new contract.
In the paddock in Abu Dhabi, Horner then specified who he had been in contact with: Hamilton’s father Anthony. In the official press conference, he downplayed the issue and demonstrated his surprise at the impact of his statements. He also emphasized that there had never been serious discussions with Lewis Hamilton. There is no space available at Red Bull.
Colleague Wolff made it clear: Anthony Hamilton has not been involved in the management of the seven-time world champion since 2010. He in turn explained that he had received a message from Horner, but only saw it some time later because he had changed his cell phone. “I talk to Lewis all the time. Also about every single WhatsApp that he has received. Also about the ones where he was basically tested to see what the contract looks like,” said Wolff on Sky.