September 24th 2024.
Christian Horner is currently searching for a new driver to join the Red Bull team. However, his long-time rival and Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, has publicly criticized him for constantly causing trouble. This comes after Horner mentioned the possibility of poaching Mercedes driver George Russell, who is currently in his final year of contract.
It is expected that Russell's contract will be extended by Mercedes, as they view him as their future number one driver. There have been very few rumors about him leaving the team. With Lewis Hamilton leaving for Ferrari and young rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli replacing him, Wolff is relying on Russell to step up as the leader of the team.
Despite this, Horner has not stopped speculating about the potential of signing Russell for Red Bull to replace either Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez. After the Singapore Grand Prix, he mentioned in an interview with Sky Sports that they are considering all options for the future, including signing Russell whose contract ends in 2025.
Wolff, on the other hand, did not take kindly to these comments. He and Horner have had a heated rivalry for several years now, and it seems to have escalated once again. In response to Horner's statement, Wolff said, "He is always stirring s**t up on his part. It's part of the game." He also clarified that Russell is a Mercedes driver and will continue to be so, as he has a long-term contract with the team.
Wolff also mentioned that he is fully focused on the current season with Russell and Antonelli, and has no plans to look for other drivers. He stated, "I don't flirt outside. I've not entertained any discussions with any drivers when giving it all from the team to make it a success." He emphasized that their priority right now is the 2024 and 2025 seasons, and they have no thoughts about 2026.
Horner's comments have raised speculations about Red Bull's driver line-up and a potential change in the near future. Verstappen has been showing growing frustration with Formula One and there are rumors that he may retire before his contract with Red Bull, which ends in 2028, expires. Perez's performance has been inconsistent since signing a new deal in June, and although his contract guarantees his seat for 2025, it does not extend to 2026.
With Daniel Ricciardo's career seemingly over, young drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson may not be ready to step up to the team, leaving Red Bull with limited options. They may once again have to look outside their pool of drivers on the grid. However, for now, their focus remains on their battle with McLaren and Lando Norris, with the upcoming United States Grand Prix on October 20.
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