The relationship between Toto Wolff and Christian Horner has never been the most amicable, and the latest statements made by the Mercedes team boss risk further straining it. At the end of 2023, the FIA launched an investigation into a potential exchange of information between the Toto Wolff spouses. According to the Austrian billionaire investor and motorsport executive, this was a “move” orchestrated by Red Bull and Horner to weaken him through the FIA probe.
In early December 2023, the FIA’s compliance department opened an investigation into possible information sharing between Toto and Susie Wolff. The process began following alleged complaints from other F1 team principals about the couple’s activities. As director of the F1 Academy, Susie maintains a closer relationship with the Formula One Group, formerly FOM, which oversees the all-female category.
“I received a message at the end of last year where he [Wolff] thanked me for defending Susie. So I don’t understand why he’s now talking nonsense,” said Christian Horner.
“He should focus more on his team’s problems. Mercedes has had a dramatic decline since 2021, even though Lewis Hamilton decided to leave the team. We’ve had bad years too. My advice is: the less you talk, the better you can concentrate on solving your problems,” concluded the Red Bull boss.
It is a relationship that doesn’t appear to be heading toward reconciliation, further complicated by the latest FIA investigation into the skid. This FIA action, which seems to have been suggested by Red Bull after the Brazilian GP, concerns additional protections on the skid.
Both Toto Wolff and Fred Vasseur, among the teams potentially implicated, have admitted to making changes to their cars. However, the Ferrari boss confirmed that the designs submitted to the FIA were perfectly compliant and without any potential repercussions.
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