Christian Horner is looking to return to Formula 1 after being sacked as Red Bull principal in July, according to multiple reports. He was linked with a move to Aston Martin, but they have opted to appoint Jonathan Wheatley instead. Horner has also been linked with the possibility of acquiring a 24 percent stake in Alpine as part of a group of investors.
The specific actions or events that led to his dismissal from Red Bull have not been disclosed, and the current status of his efforts to acquire the Alpine stake remains unclear. Mercedes is looking at buying private investment firm Otoro Capital’s shares in the team, multiple reports indicate. Toto Wolff said that Mercedes looking at that stake is in no connection with Christian Horner.
He (Horner) has broken quite a lot of glass, and these things have repercussions in our microcosm. When you say things… but that is what he has done all his life, and that is what he knows best.
He added that the idea that there is a rivalry between Christian Horner and him around who buys an Alpine stake is made up. Wolff also noted that Mercedes is looking at it from different angles, and they haven’t come to any conclusions. The timeline or likelihood of Mercedes finalizing a decision on buying Otoro Capital's shares has not been specified.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is in two minds about the possibility of Christian Horner returning to F1. He said that Christian Horner has broken quite a lot of glass, and these things have repercussions in our microcosm. Wolff added that the sport is missing personalities, and Christian Horner's personality was clearly very controversial and that is good for the sport.
Us looking at that stake is in no connection with Christian. And the idea that there is a rivalry between Christian and me around who buys an Alpine stake is made up. It would be quite sad if that was a consideration of doing such an investment or not.
Wolff said he told Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur that it needs 'the good, the bad, and the ugly', and it is now only the good and the ugly left, with the bad gone. Whether Horner is actively pursuing other F1 teams or roles for his return has not been confirmed. Toto Wolff said he does not think he would consider that Christian Horner could ever be an ally or someone that shares objectives.
He said that even when he had the biggest frustration and anger with Christian Horner, you need to remind yourself that even your worst enemy has a best friend so there must be some goodness. Wolff added that if there wasn’t that competitive rivalry over so many years, and if there was more water down the river, he is sure he could have hung with Christian Horner over dinner and had a laugh. He said that over those years it was just too intense, too fierce, and things happened which even today he cannot comprehend why Christian Horner has done them.
We are looking at it from different angles, and we haven’t come to any conclusions. We want to know whether it makes sense.
The specific 'things' that Wolff cannot comprehend have not been detailed.
I am in two minds about it (Horner returning to F1). The sport is missing personalities. And his personality was clearly very controversial and that is good for the sport.
I said to (Ferrari team principal) Fred Vasseur that it needs ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly’. And it is now only the good and the ugly left. The bad is gone.
Would I consider that he could ever be an ally or someone that shares objectives? I don’t think so.
But even when I had the biggest frustration, and anger with him, you need to remind yourself that even your worst enemy has a best friend so there must be some goodness.
If there wasn’t that competitive rivalry over so many years, and if there was more water down the river, I am sure I could have hung with him over dinner and a had a laugh.
Over those years it was just too intense, too fierce, and things happened which even today I cannot comprehend why he has done them.