Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Motorsport
Motorsport

Toto Wolff revives "Drive to Survive" line as Christian Horner moment revisited

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has never been shy of a spicy soundbite. Today, a new interview from Daniel Mac during the Autosport Business Exchange New York event has been published on his social channels, and it serves exactly that.

Following on from the famous exchange between the Mercedes chief and former Red Bull team principal on Netflix's Drive to Survive, where the Briton barked at Wolff to "change the f****** car," Mac asked him whether he'd been asked that since.

“Only one guy has ever asked me to,” Wolff answered. “You’re number two, but you know, only one guy so far and probably he was right," he laughed, making light of the difficult few years the Silver Arrows have endured since the regulation changes in 2022.

There was a long-running pantomime between the two team principals that Drive to Survive supercharged. But while the two seemed to be at each other's throats, when Red Bull Racing dropped Horner after a disappointing 2025 season, Wolff was complimentary about his paddock rival. 

"First of all, I don't think he's gone forever," Wolff told Sky Sports F1. "I think he's gonna pop up in some kind of other faction. I need to be careful. He could be rocking up in the FIA and then I'm really in the s****, you never know!"

He continued: "You look at it from the main protagonist, he was somebody that was controversial, that was polarising and not, how do you say, soft-washed, and that was good from the entertainment factor, and from that perspective he's clearly going to be missed. His track record speaks for himself."

Another clip followed where the Austrian was asked who would win if the Formula 1 paddock's team principals raced in equal cars. Wolff briefly toyed with modesty before throwing it away.

“So you know you have to be humble about your own capability," he smiled. “But in that case, I won’t be because they all, they cannot drive cars properly.

“They do this kind of show outings, whatever… so I guess I’m going to win that one.”

Pressed on who he believes would complete the podium, he pointed to McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown and his Mercedes protégé-turned-Williams chief James Vowles. 

“I think Zak would probably make it number two. Christian would have... James Vowles is pretty good these days so probably he’s number three.”

If the FIA ever fancies itself a charity race in identical tin-tops, Wolff has the billing sorted, but Horner may have to stick with commentary.

Photos from Sao Paulo GP - Sprint Race

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Cockpit cooling in the Aston Martin F1 Team garage

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Fans

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Franco Colapinto, Alpine crash

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Saturday, in photos

Formula 1
53
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.