Wolff Fires Back at Horner Over Russell Remarks: F1 Rivals Clash Amid Driver Market Speculations

Toto Wolff has accused Christian Horner of causing trouble following a reference to George Russell. Wolff retorts to Horner's recent remarks hinting at Russell being a potential candidate for Red Bull.

Toto Wolff has charged his main competitor, Christian Horner, with causing trouble after the Red Bull leader hinted at George Russell being a potential choice.

During the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, there has been much discussion regarding the driver roster of Red Bull, particularly focusing on the speculation surrounding Daniel Ricciardo's career prospects.

In a conversation with Sky on Saturday, Horner pointed out that Russell's contract concludes at the end of 2025, stating it would be "unwise" to overlook this fact.

Horner stated, "Listen, stepping outside of our current lineup doesn't scare us. George Russell's contract is up after the next season. It would be unwise to ignore that fact.

"Additionally, other skilled drivers will also find themselves without a contract."

Horner's observations are notably intriguing, especially considering Mercedes' fascination with Max Verstappen.

George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are set to be Mercedes' driving duo for the upcoming season.

Nonetheless, should Verstappen become available, Wolff could face a challenging choice.

Following Sunday's race, Wolff responded to inquiries regarding Horner's remarks.

Wolff was quoted by Motorsport.com stating, "I believe he's always causing trouble; it's part of the strategy.

"George has always been behind the wheel of a Mercedes, and if all goes as planned, he will continue to be. He's on board with us for an extended contract."

Wolff maintains that Russell and Antonelli represent Mercedes' "future," even amid prior speculation about Verstappen.

He further stated, "These two represent the future. They have been and will continue to be drivers for Mercedes, which is why we have extended, complex contracts with George and Kimi, featuring various options and so forth."

"Mercedes has consistently been a high-stress environment, yet this is our current position as a team – we're committed to moving forward with these two individuals."

Verstappen's agreement extends through to the conclusion of 2028, however, it's generally acknowledged that there are several termination clauses within his contract.

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