In a remarkable media session at the Abu Dhabi GP, Toto Wolff joined George Russell as the pair engaged in a war of words with various members of the Red Bull Racing squad.
While the British driver hit back hard at Max Verstappen following the Dutchman’s scathing words about him after the Qatar GP, the Austrian renewed his feud with Christian Horner.
It all started as the four-time World Champion was given a one-place grid penalty for driving unnecessarily slowly on an out-lap ahead of the final runs in Q3, with Russell needed to take avoiding action. However, the Brit was also on a preparation lap.
Verstappen lost his pole position to the Mercedes driver. However, he got it back immediately thanks to a great launch.
Speaking after the Qatar GP, the Red Bull team principal said Russell was hysterical throughout the weekend, and it is something Wolff did not want to tolerate.
Wolff says Horner failing in his role as team principal
Max Verstappen has been involved in plenty of on track controversies over the years.
Put to them if the Dutchman’s driving has been enabled due to a lack of leadership at Red Bull Racing, Wolff went after Horner for his lack of accountability.
“I think as a team principal, it’s important to be a sparring partner for your drivers.
“And that means explaining that things can be more nuanced. Statements that are absolutistic, thinking that everything is either right, 100% right or 100% wrong, is just something I think you need to explain.
“Think more nuanced, depending on your perception and your perspective. You need to allow for something to be 51-49. You need to allow it to be 70-30. So there’s always another side.
“And maybe when you look at it that way and you explain it to your drivers and to your team, you come to the conclusion that there is truth on both sides.
“If you don’t do that, you’re failing short of your role. It’s just weak.
“And at the end, why does he feel entitled to comment about my driver? How does that come?
“But, you know, thinking about it, I spent 90 seconds to think about it: Yapping little terrier. Always something to say.”
Unacceptable comments from Horner about Russell, says Wolff
Intriguingly, the Mercedes team principal did not want to get involved in the strong words from both Russell and Verstappen.
However, Wolff ripped into Horner once again over his analysis of how Russell allegedly behaved mentally in and out of the car during the Lusail weekend.
“I’ll tell you clearly. You know, there is this thing between drivers, and this is George and Max, and I don’t want to get involved in that.
“But if the other team principal calls George hysteric, this is where he crosses a line for me.
“Now, his forte for sure is not intellectual in psychoanalysis, but that’s quite a word.
“How dare you. How dare you comment on the state of mind of my driver.”
