In Mexico, Christian Horner maintained his verbal battle with Toto Wolff, but the Red Bull CEO made a point of bringing the discussion back on track.
Toto Wolff’s recent comments on Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner, in which the Mercedes boss referred to his counterpart as a “protagonist in a pantomime,” left Horner “quite flattered.”
While the race for the 2021 Formula One World Championship between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will continue this weekend in Mexico, the off-track spat between the two leaders shows no signs of slowing down.
Prior to Friday’s FP2 session, Horner was asked about Wolff’s recent comments, and he said he was flattered to be called a protagonist. Given the severe rivalry between the two teams, he added that what matters most is the action on the track.
“We all know Toto has a lot to say,” Horner said and accredited members of the media.
“I was quite flattered actually, being called the protagonist… If you look at what the definition of that means, you also need an antagonist to have a protagonist.
“One could say that perhaps Toto fills that role pretty well, or if it were a pantomime, maybe the pantomime dame might suit him.
“But look, it’s all about what happens on track. It’s a great competition between the teams, it’s no holds barred. It’s pit wall going against pit wall, drivers against drivers, engine suppliers against engine suppliers, chassis against chassis, and it’s fantastic.
“We’re loving it, and occasionally you’re going to get some flack thrown at you. Take it with a pinch of salt, and sometimes even as a compliment.”
Satisfaction in beating Mercedes and Wolff?
When asked if beating Mercedes and Wolff would bring him any satisfaction, Horner stated that the most important thing is to perform well on the track.
He added: “To be honest with you, as far as we’re concerned, it’s all noise. It all depends on what you do on the track, and if you can do your talking on the track, then that has way more weight and value.
“Toto likes to throw in a comment here or there. That’s part of the sport, he’s got a lot at stake. He’s going for an eighth World Championship with his driver [Hamilton], we’re going for a first with Max, and to add to the titles that we’ve already won.
“Formula 1 is a competition, and as the pressure builds, you see people react to pressure in different ways. We’re at the business end of the championship, so you can feel the tension, and that will only grow the longer this goes.
“If Toto wants to make a comment or two, I’m fine with that. It’s pantomime season coming up anyway.”
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