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Christian Horner Points Out “Dirty Tactic” Deployed by Toto Wolff to Cast a Shadow Over Red Bull’s Glittering Success

Published Feb 25, 2023 | 10:00 AM EST

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Formula 1’s most iconic rivalry of our times has been between Red Bull and Mercedes. While the former has always been inches away from the ultimate glory, the tables finally turned last season. In fact, the tides of time began shifting after the controversial Abu Dhabi finish in 2021. After waiting on the sidelines for almost a decade, the Milton Keynes outfit tasted glory again. The Red Bull TP, Christian Horner, highlighted how the losing side has been targeting the current reigning champions.

In the ninth episode of Drive to Survive season 5, Horner spilled the beans on the ‘trouble’ one invites when one begins dominating the cutthroat sport of Formula 1. And the throne, which now belongs to Red Bull and Horner, has been threatened by the rivals. Mercedes, along with a few other teams, were adamant that the Red Bull be handed a penalty for breaching the budget cap.

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Horner said, “The best way to become unpopular in the sport or in this pitlane is to win. And, of course, people hide behind their lack of performance by throwing shade or trying to discredit the performance that we’ve achieved. It’s a dirty tactic.”

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Read More: Red Bull Taskmaster Starts the Mind Games With “Restless” Mercedes & Ferrari Amid a Fading Hope: “Still Have Their Problems”

Red Bull cruised through the field to claim the championship last season. However, Mercedes suffered through most of the last season with unprecedented car issues. The grid raced and the machine Silver Arrows built was left bouncing on the track in furtherance of the new regulations.

Christian Horner fires shots at Toto Wolff; asks him to change his car

In an episode of DTS, where team principals were called upon by the F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to discuss issues with the new-age car. The discussion turned into a heated argument. Toto Wolff warned the fellow TPs, saying they were playing a ‘dangerous game’. While Horner accused Wolff of playing to the camera, Wolff still stood firm. Additionally, the already heated conversation ended with Horner hitting below the belt. He asked the German team’s TP to build a better car.

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In the ongoing chaos, ex-Ferrari TP Mattia Binotto said, “No, Toto. Safety is a matter of team responsibility, braking system, suspension.” Wolff wasn’t pleased with it and said, “Each of you has found something to limit the problem. Congratulations!”

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As a result, Horner didn’t shy away from taking a dig at Wolff. “Well, change your car. You’ve got a problem. Change your ****ing car.”

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Watch This Story: Max Verstappen and Christian Horner slam Mercedes for trying to ‘take shine off’ F1 title win after Lewis Hamilton drama

What are your thoughts on the war of Team Principals showcased in Drive to Survive? Whose side will you pick?

Written by:

Anmol

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Anmol is an F1 writer at Essentially Sports. She is a Law graduate from National Law University, Lucknow, and currently pursuing PGD in Journalism and Mass Communication from Symbiosis. Being a Rallyist herself she began watching F1, the apex of motorsports, and eventually fell in love with the sport.
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Edited by:

Akash Pandhare