- The Mercedes team chief slammed his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner
- Horner had stated Red Bull would be interesting in signing George Russell
- The 26-year-old is currently contracted to Mercedes until the end of next year
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has blasted his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner for ‘stirring s*** up’ after suggesting they are considering George Russell for a future spot in their team.
Russell is currently spending his third season in a Mercedes car and is seeing his ambitions of becoming a world champion tested by the garage’s struggles during his career at the sport’s former dominant outfit.
The 26-year-old defended brilliantly at the end of the weekend’s Singapore GP to hold off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and finish fourth, and is a name under consideration within Red Bull’s camp.
The championship-leading garage are struggling in their attempts to deliver Max Verstappen a fourth consecutive world drivers title and could replace Sergio Perez soon.
Russell’s current deal comes to an end at the end of next year’s Formula One season and given his capabilities, Horner says Red Bull would be ‘foolish’ to not consider the Brit.
‘We have got a gap now but we just want to take time to consider what those options look like for the future,’ said Horner during qualifying in Singapore.
‘We’re not afraid to go out of the pool. George Russell is out of contract at the end of next year and it would be foolish for us not to take it into consideration,’ he added.
Now, Wolff – who has shared a fractured relationship with his Horner throughout their rivalry – has hit back at Red Bull’s comments and slammed his opposite team chief for ‘stirring s*** up’.
The 52-year-old also sought to end any speculation building around Russell’s place at Mercedes, adding: ‘I think he [Horner] is always stirring s*** up, it is part of the game.
‘George is a Mercedes driver and has been forever and hopefully will be forever. We have a long contract with him.’
Russell will be the leading driver at Mercedes next season, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton previously announcing he has signed a two-year deal with Ferrari.
Mercedes are currently fourth overall in F1’s Constructors Championship and have just six races remaining to catch Ferrari.
18-year-old rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli will replace Hamilton as Russell’s new Mercedes team-mate next year.
