Why Toto Wolff doubts sparring partner Christian Horner will return to F1

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has cast doubt that former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner will return to Formula 1.

Horner, who was sacked last July after 20 years at the helm of Red Bull amid the team’s declining form and internal power battles, is seeking a return to the F1 paddock.

The 52-year-old Briton has been most heavily linked with Alpine after it was confirmed in January that Horner was among a group of investors interesting in buying Otro Capital’s 24 percent stake in the French squad.

Mercedes has since joined the parties interested in buying a minority stake in Alpine, with some seeing that as an attempt by Wolff to stop Horner making a comeback.

Such suggestions have been denied by Wolff, who engaged in a long-standing and bitter rivalry with Horner during their time as team principals in F1.

Wolff thinks a return to F1 will be difficult for Horner because he has “broken quite a lot of glass”.

In 2024, Horner was accused of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour by a female employee. He was twice cleared of the claims.

"He has broken quite a lot of glass, and these things have repercussions in our microcosm," Wolff told the Press Association.

“When you say things ... but that is what he has done all his life, and that is what he knows best.

"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.

"We are looking at it from different angles, and we haven't come to any conclusions. We want to know whether it makes sense.”

Wolff and Horner clashed regularly with some attacks becoming personal. The intensity of their rivalry peaked during the 2021 world championship fight between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

"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,” Wolff added.

"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 had 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.

"I don't know if he is finding his way back, and in which function. I certainly don't wish him bad. And we need to give each other credit. There are not many team principals who have done what he has done.

"I see a situation that whatever happens, whatever outcomes there may be, whether he comes back to Formula 1 or not, I am at ease with it."