Mercedes chief Wolff has been questioned over photo with Christian Horner

Mercedes and Red Bull are bitter rivals in the F1 championship and that is often reflected in the relationship between team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner

Toto Wolff dismissed the notion that he and Christian Horner are friends despite beaming next to each other in a viral photograph.

As heads of the two most successful teams on the grid over the last decade, Wolff and Horner often clash in public. So it was no surprise that fans picked up on a rare heart-warming moment between them after the final race of this season.

Red Bull, the defending champions who had won the championship several weeks prior to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was not up against Mercedes. That could be the reason Wolff was so excited to take a picture with Horner, the two team captains grinning broadly.

Wolff was asked about it in an interview with the Austrian news agency OE24. But the idea that he and Horner are now “best buddies” was met with derision.

That happened while leaving the paddock, the 51-year-old recalled. Together with his mother and a few other acquaintances, Mark Mateschitz, co-owner of Red Bull, was surrounded by a pleasant group. After I joined them, I had a lighthearted conversation with Christian’s wife, Geri Horner, which is how the picture was taken.

“Comrades? Before the final race in 2021, there may have been one last handshake. However, you must acknowledge the level of performance of your rival. I respect the accomplishments made by the Red Bull team.”

In an interview with Sky Sports News, Horner was questioned regarding the striking image as well. And before disclosing shared sentiments about his rival, he laughed about a conversation he had just had with his wife.

He chuckled, saying, “You probably can’t see my clenched fist that is out of shot there, but I think my wife just gave him such a hard bum smack that it caught him off guard!

“Despite the demanding nature of the season and the need for competition, respect is still required. I am proud of everything he has accomplished in the sport. Even though we are very different individuals and leaders, there is still respect. We have a professional relationship, in my opinion.”

While the FIA was looking into a possible “conflict of interest” between Wolff and his wife Susie’s jobs, Horner refuted the idea that Red Bull had complained to them in that same interview. Moreover, the governing body ended its investigation into Mercedes after all nine of its competitors released comparable statements; however, Wolff stated that there is still a “active legal exchange” with the FIA.

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