F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Horner: Toto and I are F1’s last team boss ‘dinosaurs’

Red Bull’s Christian Horner believes that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and himself are noteworthy exceptions in Formula 1 in terms of their background as team principals, insisting their characters have earned themselves the moniker of “dinosaurs”.

In the ever-evolving realm of Formula 1, Horner suggests that a distinct shift has been witnessed in the role of team principals, veering away from the traditional entrepreneurial mold towards a more technically oriented profile.

In this landscape, Horner sees his Mercedes counter-part and himself as the last remnants of the old guard.

Unlike their contemporaries, who have progressively embraced specialized technical roles, Horner and Wolff retain a more generalized approach, emphasizing strategic insight and adept leadership over in-depth technical expertise.

Read also:

While modern Formula 1 places a premium on data-driven decision-making and specialized engineering proficiency, the enduring relevance of Horner and Wolff lies in their ability to navigate the complex intersection of sport, business, and strategy, drawing from their extensive experience to orchestrate success on and off the track.

“When I look around the room now, there’s very different personalities,” Horner said on ESPN’s Unlapped podcast.

“When I first came into the sport, there was Ron Dennis, there was Flavio Briatore, there was Eddie Jordan, there was Jean Todt.

“There was Bernie Ecclestone running it, there was Max Mosley there, Frank Williams – some really big characters and personalities.

“Of course, now you look around the room – maybe it’s just me getting older – but there’s more managers there and it’s gotten much more technical than the entrepreneurial side.”

Horner began his career in Formula 1 with Red Bull in 2005, having previously honed his management skills in F3000 with his family’s Arden team.

Under Horner’s guidance, Red Bull has claimed a total of twelve world titles in F1 - five World Constructors' Championships and seven World Drivers' Championships, with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

Wolff has been at the helm of the Mercedes team which he co-owns since 2013. Under the Austrian’s leadership, the German manufacturer enjoyed a period of unprecedented success in Formula 1, winning multiple Constructors' and Drivers' Championships.

Wolff's strategic acumen, management skills, and ability to create a winning culture were instrumental in Mercedes' dominant performance on the track.

Over the years, the relationship between Horner and Wolff has been a mix of rivalry, competition, and professional respect.

But the pair have also endured their heated moments, engaging in public spats about various Formula 1-related matters, such as regulations and race incidents.

“So I suppose Toto and myself are perhaps two of the more ‘dinosaur’ type of characters compared to some,” added Horner. “Even though I’m still on the younger side of the team principles.

“But the dynamic and the definition of what a team principal is these days is very different to when I first came into this post.”

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Las Vegas GP: Thursday's action in pictures

The opening day of running at the Las Vegas GP was a smooth but chilly…

43 mins ago

Williams' headaches persist into Vegas practice

Williams is continuing to fight uphill battles this weekend in Las Vegas as a knock-on…

2 hours ago

Ferrari's Sainz 'not satisfied with where we are' in Vegas

It was a solid start to the Las Vegas weekend for Ferrari with Carlos Sainz…

3 hours ago

Norris labels McLaren long-run pace ‘shocking’ in chilly Vegas

Lando Norris didn’t hold back in his assessment of McLaren’s performance on the opening day…

4 hours ago

Hamilton delighted with ‘consistently strong day’ in Vegas

Lewis Hamilton was particularly happy with his opening day of running at the Las Vegas…

6 hours ago

Verstappen stuck with 'draggy' rear wing for Vegas

Red Bull fears that its prospects for this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix - which…

6 hours ago