Wolff admits he misses Horner: “F1 needs a villain, and he knows how to win – that’s undeniable”. Toto Wolff shared his thoughts on Christian Horner’s absence from Formula 1.

Toto Wolff admits he misses Christian Horner’s presence in Formula 1, saying that the sport currently lacks a ‘villain’ figure like the former Red Bull team principal, who he believes knew exactly how to win and dominate the cameras.

A long-time rival turned respected enemy

Since Christian Horner’s departure from the Formula 1 paddock last July, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has often spoken about his long-standing rival, revealing a certain nostalgia for the fierce rivalry that once defined the battles between Mercedes and Red Bull. The two team bosses even exchanged private messages, something Wolff himself revealed to the media during the Dutch Grand Prix.

In a recent interview with Sport Bild, the Austrian once again touched on the topic, explaining how Horner’s absence has left a void in the sport: “We need strong personalities in Formula 1 — someone who can play the villain. Christian was always good at that; he felt comfortable in that role. He knew how to dominate the cameras and use them to his advantage. Now that part is missing a bit, because there are no real tensions anymore.”

When asked about the possibility of Horner returning to the paddock, Wolff replied: “He has to decide that for himself. I don’t know if he feels he has unfinished business or if he wants to prove something. Either way, he knows how to win and how to collect world titles. His success is undeniable.”

The harassment case closure

As reported a few days ago by De Telegraaf, Christian Horner reached a financial settlement with the employee who had accused him of harassment, leading to the case being closed.

However, according to the Daily Mail, the version of events is slightly different: “The woman was paid £3 million to leave Red Bull and agreed to withdraw the accusations in exchange for the payment.”