Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 6, 2024 Red Bull team principal Christian Horner during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Red Bull team boss Christian Horner hit back at Mercedes rival Toto Wolff on Friday after the Austrian called him a 'yapping little terrier'.
Wolff's comment came as a row between Red Bull's quadruple champion Max Verstappen and Mercedes George Russell blew up at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with accusations of bullying and lying.
Reminding reporters at an FIA press conference that the pre-Christmas pantomime season was under way back home in Britain, Horner said with a smile that he had always been a big fan of the breed.
"I think they're great dogs and I've had four of them," he said, his choice of names raising a smile with the nod to former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and ex-Renault team boss Flavio Briatore.
"I've had a couple of West Highland Terriers called Bernie and Flavio. The thing about terriers is they're tremendously loyal. I mean Bernie, he was aggressive as a dog, he'd go for anybody," continued Horner.
"Flavio, he was a bit more chilled... he probably ate a bit too much as well.
"To be called a terrier, is that such a bad thing? They're not afraid of having a go with the bigger dogs. I'd rather be a terrier than a wolf maybe."
Russell had called Verstappen a bully on Thursday, saying the Dutch driver had threatened to crash into him on purpose. Verstappen had suggested the Briton had lied to stewards in Qatar to get him stripped of pole position.
Horner, who has had a long history of clashes with Wolff, said he was not worried about the row spilling over onto the track.
"Max, he's a very straight shooter. He just tells you exactly how he sees it, he tells the truth exactly what he feels," said Horner.
Asked whether he believed Verstappen's version of events, Horner defended his driver absolutely: "Max does nothing but tell the truth. So I believe 100% what he said to be accurate."
He told reporters Wolff was "quite dramatic' and someone who liked to talk a lot.
"It's a love-hate relationship. Toto loves to hate me," quipped the Briton.
In 2021, Horner likened Wolff to a "pantomime dame" after the Austrian called him a "windbag", with their rivalry also broadcast to millions via Netflix's 'Drive to Survive' docu-series.
Between them, Mercedes and Red Bull have won every championship since 2010 although that will end this season with Ferrari and McLaren fighting for the constructors' crown.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge)
