F1 Academy director Susie Wolff reflects on Christian Horner’s impact on the sport. F1 Academy director Susie Wolff reflected on Christian Horner’s departure from Red Bull.

Susie Wolff on Horner: “He played a character, but the case didn’t help F1’s image”

In recent days, Christian Horner has frequently been back in the headlines. The former Red Bull team principal has been linked to several Formula 1 teams for the 2026 season, including Ferrari, and he appears more determined than ever to seize the opportunity to return to the world where he long served as a key figure. Christian Horner recently saw the sexual harassment charges against him dropped following a multi-million euro settlement with the other party involved, a controversy that had sparked a lengthy back-and-forth with Red Bull’s leadership, ultimately culminating in his official departure on 9 July 2025.

The man and the persona

In a recent interview with the Sunday Times, Susie Wolff, wife of Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff — Christian Horner’s long-time rival — and manager of the F1 Academy, spoke about him. According to Wolff, the episode involving Horner and the accusations against him “was not positive for the image of the sport.”

She explained, “Christian supported the F1 Academy, and I will always be grateful for that. It was really a shame for the sport that such a drama erupted from those accusations. We were gaining significant positive momentum with the F1 Academy, and then suddenly everything exploded and everyone wanted to interview me only about that issue.”

It is no secret that tensions existed between Christian Horner and the Wolff family over the years, particularly during the notorious 2021 season. However, according to Susie Wolff, the former Red Bull team principal enjoyed playing a specific role within the paddock. She added, “He was someone who played a character very well, but I think that incident was perhaps not ideal for the sport’s image and showed that we still have work to do.”