via Getty
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 26: Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff and Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talk in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on April 26, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
via Getty
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 26: Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff and Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talk in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on April 26, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
The rivalry between Mercedes and Red Bull has been a fiery one for the past few years. It is not uncommon to watch the two teams take shots at each other. Be it Toto Wolff and Christian Horner, or their drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, they never miss a chance to get one up over their rivals.
In a similar incident, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has taken a serious jibe at Red Bull and their team principal, Christian Horner. The RBR boss defended the accusations thrown at him from other teams. However, the Mercedes boss called out Horner for making a sob-story to get his way out of the recent controversy.
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Toto said, “I almost had to squeeze out a tear when I heard that. The facts are 9 out of 10 teams were under the cost cap. One team is now arguing that they slipped over it with supposed non-performance topics, but these apply to all of us.”
He further added, “We also thought about how many sandwiches we give people & how we deal with various other cost pools. Whatever they’re over, a million, two or five, I don’t know, is a cash value advantage that you can put into development.”
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Fans trolled Christian Horner mercilessly on Twitter as the RBR boss’s attempt to get out of the controversy failed.
F1 Twitter rages against Red Bull boss Christian Horner for his defense against budget cap controversy
F1 fans on Twitter were having none of it as they lashed on the Red Bull boss. Horner’s comments did not go down well with the fans. Additionally, people questioned his attitude toward the regulations surrounding the financial budget cap.
Horner saying they're being abused – called fraudulent – and that it has to stop??? 😆#F1nancialDoping #RedBullCheats #CostCapChampion #F1nished
— Hamilton Insights (@LH44_insights) October 22, 2022
Christian Horner thinks he should be told whether he’s doing something wrong by the FIA rather than him actively checking with them himself. This says everything about his attitude… #SkyF1
— Jordan ¹⁰³ (@F1_Jordan) October 22, 2022
Moreover, fans also called out the Red Bull boss for his ironic behavior.
Christian Horner really pulling the mental health card here regarding RBR breaking the cost cap 🤔🙄 Same man who was inflaming all sorts of hate Lewis/Mercedes way last year 🤦🏻♂️ #F1 pic.twitter.com/gQfjCeVT2B
— Ross H (@peco_train) October 22, 2022
Horner said it's "shocking" for a competitor to accuse RB of cheating. Yes the same RB that accused Lewis Hamilton of intentionally crashing into Max, tarnishing his reputation and enabling mass hate. The irony 💀
— Luke 🆑 📠 (@ElPredestinato) October 22, 2022
Additionally, some fans did not react well to Horner playing the victim card.
Christian Horner basically just said – either the @FIA give us a slap on the wrist, or we will drag this out for months – FIA need to show they are not afraid of Red Bull and give them a meaningful penalty – do not let them get away with there #F1nancialDoping
— SMD (@F1SMD) October 22, 2022
If ever there was an illustration of why Whinger Horner is considered to be such an insufferable weasel, here it is.
He is actually trying to paint RBR as the victims! You were the one's the @fia found to be #F1nancialDoping. You're not the victim. The rest of #F1 is! pic.twitter.com/6TwxmJQ7jT
— Rob Myers (@RobLMyers) October 22, 2022
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WATCH THIS STORY: Max Verstappen and Christian Horner slam Mercedes for trying to ‘take shine off’ F1 title win after Lewis Hamilton drama
Toto vs Horner will go down in history as one of the greatest F1 rivalries of all time 😂🔥
— Rishi Srinivasan | ரிஷி ஶ்ரீனிவாசன் (@RishiSrinivas14) October 22, 2022
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The FIA is yet to decide the punishment for the breach of rules from Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin. However, with the pressure from the rest of the teams, it will be interesting the see FIA’s verdict.
