Christian Horner joked in a text message to Toto Wolff that the Mercedes boss will be lost without him after his sacking by Red Bull after the British Grand Prix, it has emerged.<\/p>\n
And the Mercedes team boss has admitted that it is \u201cquite strange\u201d that Horner is no longer a presence in the F1 paddock.<\/p>\n
Toto Wolff doubles down on Christian Horner \u2018a**hole\u2019 comment<\/p>\n
Horner was sacked by Red Bull after more than 20 years in charge following July\u2019s British Grand Prix, with Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies installed as his replacement as chief executive and team principal.<\/p>\n
The 51-year-old stands as one of the most successful team bosses in history having led Red Bull to six Constructors\u2019 titles and eight Drivers\u2019 championships \u2013 split evenly between Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen \u2013 since his appointment in 2005.<\/p>\n
Horner and Wolff were embroiled in a bitter rivalry during the 2021 season as their respective drivers, Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, battled for the title.<\/p>\n
Analysis: Dutch Grand Prix<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Dutch GP conclusions: Piastri breaks Norris\u2019s spirit, unavoidable Hadjar mistake, Hamilton\u2019s realisation<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Dutch GP driver ratings: Hamilton clanger, Hadjar\u2019s heroics, Piastri domination<\/a><\/p>\n That year ended with Verstappen claiming the first of four consecutive world championships at the infamous title decider in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n Wolff has revealed that Horner sent him a text quipping that the Mercedes boss will be lost without him following the exit of his main adversary.<\/p>\n And he admitted that the former Red Bull boss has been a \u201cgreat enemy\u201d to him since he joined Mercedes in 2013.<\/p>\n According to Motorsport.com, Wolff said: \u201cHe said to me: \u2018What are you doing now, because you love to hate me and I\u2019m gone!\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a bit ambivalent because, A) his track record is very good \u2013 one of the most successful in Formula 1, so clearly there are things he\u2019s done well.<\/p>\n \u201cWithin the team I think he was, to a certain degree, respected in Milton Keynes.<\/p>\n \u201cBut then we didn\u2019t often have the same opinion or perspective, so he\u2019s been a wonderful, great enemy over the years.<\/p>\n \u201cAm I missing him? It\u2019s quite strange to come here and Christian\u2019s not going to be around.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing with him not around? That\u2019s a bit weird.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then you have the pragmatism of Laurent Mekies. Suddenly, you can have a conversation about the long term.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re just totally different people, but even your biggest enemy is your best friend.\u201d<\/p>\n Horner\u2019s return to the paddock is widely regarded as a matter of when, not if, with the ex-Red Bull boss expected to pursue a team-ownership-style role when he commits to an F1 comeback.<\/p>\n It is possible that Horner could take a role similar to that held by Wolff, who as well as acting as team boss and chief executive owns a third of the Mercedes team.<\/p>\n Horner has been linked over recent weeks with the Alpine team given the lingering uncertainty surrounding Renault\u2019s F1 future.<\/p>\n However, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who is known to have a close relationship with Horner, recently shut down the suggestion<\/a> that he could link up with Horner to purchase Alpine.<\/p>\n More on Mercedes and Red Bull from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Mercedes news<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Red Bull news<\/a><\/p>\n Speaking to media including PlanetF1.com in the team principals\u2019 press conference at last weekend\u2019s Dutch Grand Prix, Wolff quipped that it would be like<\/a> \u201cthe mafia reunited\u201d if Horner, Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore were to do business together.<\/p>\n Wolff, who branded Horner an \u201ca**hole\u201d in a final parting shot during the recent summer break, later clarified his comments, insisting that F1 needs \u201cmassive characters\u201d like Horner.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWhat I said is that every movie needs the good, the bad and the ugly.<\/p>\n \u201cNow the bad is gone, it\u2019s only Fred [Vasseur] and I left\u2026 It took Fred a while to think about that.<\/p>\n \u201cThe sport needs that.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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\u2019t fake it.<\/p>\n \u201cChristian was one of those protagonists. He was outspoken, he was controversial, he was an a** and he loved to play that role.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need an a**hole. People need to hate someone.\u201d<\/p>\n