Christian Horner has been out of Formula 1 for over a month, and Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff is missing his presence in the paddock.
Horner was axed from Red Bull after serving the team for two decades. He played a crucial role in forming the team that went on to deliver several championships over the years.
The Briton served as the face of the team, representing Red Bull Racing in meetings regarding regulations, securing sponsors, and navigating the politics of F1.
He starred in Netflix‘s Drive to Survive, inadvertently taking on the role of a villain in the show. Horner unapologetically defended his team and took whatever means necessary to topple Mercedes’ reign in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
His rivalry with Wolff became must-see TV, marked by intense showdowns, bitter words exchanged between them, and creating a notable conflict between the two parties.
In the aftermath of Horner’s departure, Wolff revealed his discussion with the former Red Bull leader and shared his thoughts on his absence.
“He said to me: ‘What are you doing now, because you love to hate me and I’m gone!’” Wolff told reporters during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.
“It’s a bit ambivalent because, A, his track record is very good – one of the most successful in Formula 1. So, clearly there are things he’s done well. Within the team, I think he was to a certain degree, respected in Milton Keynes.
“But then we didn’t often have the same opinion or perspective. So, he’s been a wonderful, great enemy over the years.
“Am I missing him? It’s quite strange to come here, and Christian’s not going to be around. I mean, what are you doing with him not around? That’s a bit weird.
“And then you have the pragmatism of Laurent Mekies. Suddenly you can have a conversation about the long term. We’re just totally different people, but even your biggest enemy is your best friend.”
While Horner likely caused several headaches for Wolff over their time in the sport, he does believe that his former colleague added value for the sport.
“The sport needs that. In the past we had those massive characters and I hope that some of the new team principals are going to grow into these roles in an authentic way, because you can’t fake it,” he added.
“Christian was one of those protagonists. He was outspoken, he was controversial, he was an ass, and he loved to play that role. You need an asshole, people need to hate someone.”
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