Wolff calls rival F1 boss Horner a ‘protagonist in a pantomime’

While the on-track battle between Mercedes and Red Bull has raged throughout 2021 and only continues to intensify at the business end of the season, the off-track sparring between the two camps has also been equally entertaining.

A war of words escalated amid the flexi-wing saga back in June when Wolff called Horner a “windbag who wants to be on camera” in response to Horner’s comments about Mercedes’ front-wing design. 

Ahead of the United States Grand Prix, Horner said in an interview with British broadsheet The Guardian that Wolff is facing a “different type of pressure now” due to the close nature of this year’s title battle between Mercedes and Red Bull. 

Asked about Horner’s claim, Wolff told The Daily Mail: “What Christian says about me feeling pressure - no, not at all. 

“I feel he is one of the protagonists in a pantomime, part of the Formula 1 cast, and for me as a stakeholder, as a team owner, it's great that he creates these kinds of stories. 

“But it's irrelevant. People have a microphone in front of them or a camera on them and they start to behave like little actors, like Hollywood.” 

Wolff said this year’s off-track antics reminds him of F1 under Bernie Ecclestone’s leadership but insists he has no interest getting “drawn into” the additional drama. 

“It's very good they fill the blanks and make it pantomime,” Wolff continued. “That’s good for the sport and good for Netflix because they want to portray the people, not just the stopwatch. 

“People have realised they are being quoted if they say controversial things. It gives them media time, it gets their picture in the newspapers.

“In many ways we are going back to our roots because what Bernie Ecclestone created back in the day was racing and soap. And when there was not enough racing he made soap, he was always good for a headline. So we're back there. 

“But I don't get drawn into it. I find it amusing, but it doesn't touch me.”