Is the Wolff vs Horner conflict back to F1 2021 levels?

Mercedes was at pains to point out that Toto Wolff’s “yapping little terrier” jibe had been directed at his opposite Formula 1 team principal number at Red Bull, Christian Horner.

Its communications team knew he was planning to say something on the media day for the season finale here in Abu Dhabi. But not that he’d so overtly infiltrate George Russell’s press briefing – standing over his charge less like a protective parent, but more a united front of point making.

Max Verstappen, in the final part of the day’s media tit-for-tat that’d started with Russell unloading on the Dutchman’s post-Qatar Grand Prix comments on his character in a group interview including Autosport, clearly viewed Wolff’s appearance in Russell’s media briefing as the former.

“I can fend for myself,” said Verstappen.

And while an emotional quality shone through Russell’s words all day – he doesn’t appear delighted with this unfamiliar situation of public conflict that has got very personal, which perhaps explains why he went too far in insinuating what Verstappen would’ve done to former race director Michael Masi had the Abu Dhabi 2021 saga been reversed in Lewis Hamilton’s favour – this whole saga is wrapped in long-term strategic thinking.

Autosport understands that Russell himself initiated this public response to Verstappen’s Qatar comments, which, from the near-empty press conference room last Sunday night also had a pre-mediated whiff.

A plan of action therefore unfolded – Russell out to take a stand at what he calls people being “bullied by Max” and his on- and off-track tactics – with Mercedes and Wolff keen to assist.

For Wolff, he’s pleased his team leader for 2025 is showing fire in an attempt to put a hard stop on Verstappen’s own uncompromising, relentlessly attacking approaches. He and Mercedes also feel Verstappen’s reaction shows the Silver Arrows squad and Russell are a threat for the 2025 world title.

Potential on-track conflict between the two drivers has possible upside for Mercedes – 2024 has reinforced that when the pressure is on Verstappen is fallible.

But so too is Russell, as the Qatar start showed, with his second phase of the launch understood to not have been his best in controlling wheelspin, having made the better reaction with the Red Bull pointed across his…