Rosberg Reacts To Feud Between Horner And Wolff: 'Bit Of Knife Thrown Towards Toto There'

Wednesday, 25 September 2024 at 10:55

Nico Rosberg addressed the most recent feud between Mercedes and Red Bull team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner.

Although Toto Wolff is no longer Christian Horner's primary rival in the battle for the Championship title, their heated rivalry from the 2021 season still lingers.

Mercedes' team principal has been making life difficult for Christian Horner in 2024 by attempting to poach his star driver, Max Verstappen.

Although the Dutchman remains with Red Bull for 2025, his future within the team seems uncertain, as he himself won't confirm that he stay there in 2026.

The team principal of Red Bull decided to strike back at Wolff during the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix weekend as he suggested he was considering Mercedes driver Geroge Russell for 2026. He told Sky Sports F1:

"We’re not afraid to go out of the pool. George Russell is out of contract at the end of the next year. It would be foolish not to take that into consideration. There are other talented drivers that could well be out of contract as well."

George Russell in Mercedes team clothes at the Singapore Grand Prix paddock, wearing glasses, with a camera crew in the background, shot from behind a green plant.

George Russell at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix

When Toto Wolff was approached with comments from the 50-year-old Red Bull boss, he replied that he plans to retain Russell. As reported by Mirror, he said:

"Christian is always trying to stir s*** up. It's part of the game. George is a Mercedes driver, has been forever, and hopefully will be forever. We have a long contract with him."

Former Mercedes F1 driver (who worked with Wolff) and 2016 Champion Nico Rosberg reacted to this spat between the two F1 team principals during his most recent appearance on the Sky F1 podcast:

"That was a bit of a knife thrown towards Toto there, I felt. It puts the pressure on Toto to make a decision because George doesn't have a contract."

"Christian could be really naughty and just try and snatch him away from there and try and lock him in through contract already now, which I don't know if George would even be interested, but it does add the pressure for Toto, a comment like that."