Christian Horner Strikes Back: ‘Rather a Terrier Than a Wolf’
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Christian Horner responds to Toto Wolff's 'yappy little terrier' comment, defending his stance as Red Bull and Mercedes continue their rivalry in Formula 1.
Christian Horner Strikes Back: ‘Rather a Terrier Than a Wolf’
The rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes continues to intensify as Christian Horner responded to Toto Wolff’s recent “yappy little terrier” remark. The Red Bull team principal dismissed the criticism, stating that he would rather be a terrier than a wolf, as terriers are not afraid to take on bigger opponents.
Horner Defends Red Bull’s Competitive Spirit
The ongoing war of words between Red Bull and Mercedes reached a new level during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix media day. With tensions already high following a heated exchange between Max Verstappen and George Russell, their team bosses inevitably got drawn into the debate.
Verstappen had earlier accused Russell of “lying” to the stewards to get him penalized in qualifying, while the Mercedes driver claimed that Verstappen threatened to put his “f***ing head in the wall.”
The dispute spilled into the team principals’ discussions, with Horner branding Russell “hysterical” during the Qatar Grand Prix stewards’ hearing. In response, Wolff defended his driver, taking a direct shot at Horner.
“Why does he [Christian] feel entitled to comment about my driver? How does that come?” Wolff asked.
“Yapping little terrier. Thinking about it, spending 90 seconds to think about it… always something to say.”
Horner: ‘Rather Be a Terrier Than a Wolf’
Horner, unfazed by Wolff’s remark, embraced the comparison.
“I love terriers, I think they are great dogs,” Horner said during the FIA press conference on Friday. “I had four of them and a couple of Airedales, which is the king of the terriers.
“I had a couple of West Highland terriers called Bernie and Flavio. And the good thing about a terrier is they’re tremendously loyal. Bernie, he was an aggressive little dog, he’d go for anybody. Flavio, he was a bit more chilled and he probably ate a bit too much as well.
“But I think to be called a terrier – is that such a bad thing? They’re not afraid of having a go at the bigger dogs.
“You know, rather be a terrier than a wolf.”
Concerns Over Verstappen-Russell Feud? Not for Horner
With tensions flaring between Verstappen and Russell, questions arose about whether their off-track feud might escalate into on-track incidents during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, Horner dismissed any concerns.
“No, not at all,” he said when asked if the rivalry could lead to clashes on race day.
“Max, he’s a very straight shooter. He just tells you exactly how he sees it. He tells the truth exactly, what he feels.
“Obviously, he had a large amount of frustration last weekend. The way things played out in a scenario that we haven’t seen before and the subsequent grid penalty. He turned that into motivation and made a lightning start, led the race into the first corner, and won the Grand Prix, which is the best possible response.”
Final Race of the 2024 Season
The 2024 Formula 1 season will conclude this weekend at Yas Marina Circuit, with Red Bull aiming to cap off a dominant campaign. Verstappen has already secured the drivers’ championship, while Red Bull has locked up the constructors’ title.
As the season wraps up, the focus will soon shift to 2025, with driver market moves, regulatory changes, and the ever-intensifying rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes set to dominate headlines.
Stay tuned for more Formula 1 news, driver updates, and analysis as the motorsport world prepares for another thrilling season.
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