Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has slammed long-time F1 rival Christian Horner, accusing the Red Bull team principal of ‘alway stirring s**t up’.
This comes after Horner suggested he could poach George Russell from Wolff, with the Mercedes driver out of contract next year.
It is expected that Russell’s deal will be extended as the Silver Arrows view him as their long-term No.1 driver and there have only been very faint rumours about him potentially moving elsewhere.
With Sir Lewis Hamilton leaving for Ferrari and teenage rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli replacing him, Wolff is relying on the 26-year-old to step up and lead the team.
That didn’t stop Horner from claiming that he could sign the two-time race winner for Red Bull as a potential replacement for either Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez.
Following the Singapore Grand Prix, he told Sky Sports: ‘We just want to take time to consider what those options look like for the future. And we’re not afraid to go out of the pool [of Red Bull drivers].
‘You know, George Russell is out of contract at the end of next year. It would be foolish not to take that into consideration.’
As expected, Wolff did not take these comments well, with the Austrian and Horner engaged in a fierce rivalry that has notably boiled over several times in the last few years.
‘He is always stirring s**t up on his part. It’s part of the game,’ Wolff responded.
‘George is a Mercedes driver, has been forever and hopefully will be forever. He has a long contract with the team.
‘I don’t flirt outside. I’ve not entertained any discussions with any drivers when giving it all from the team to make it a success. This is why all of our focus in the team is on George and Kimi, and that’s what I also said.
‘There’s no discussion, there’s no second thoughts about what we are doing in 2026, because now it’s about 2024 and 2025.’
Horner’s comments suggest he and Red Bull are preparing for a big change in their driver line-up amid Verstappen’s growing frustration with Formula One which could see him retire before his contract, which runs till 2028, expires.
Perez’s form has nose divided since penning a new deal in June, with his contract guaranteeing his seat for 2025 but not 2026.
With Daniel Ricciardo’s career seemingly over, Yuki Tsunoda not highly-rated and Liam Lawson lacking experience, Red Bull are unlikely to promote from within and may once again be forced to look elsewhere on the grid.
In the meantime, they and Verstappen are preparing to do battle with McLaren and Lando Norris again as the title race intensified, with the United States Grand Prix up next on October 20.
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