'I've competed against Toto Wolff and Christian Horner – it's clear who is most annoying'

Guenther Steiner has declared Christian Horner as the most annoying Formula One boss. The former Haas team principal was asked which of Horner or Mercedes chief Toto Wolff was most irritating when their teams were dominant.

Red Bull have won the World Constructors’ Championship for two successive years, while their star driver Max Verstappen is the reigning three-time drivers’ title holder. Horner’s team replaced Mercedes as the dominant force in F1.

But Steiner has pointed out that Red Bull’s success has come with plenty of controversy. For instance, Verstappen’s contentious 2021 World Championship-winning campaign saw Red Bull handed a £5million fine for breaching cost cap regulations.

Mercedes, Steiner adds, were able to win with little drama. Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, the 59-year-old said: “Who was more annoying [when] on top? I would say Christian! It came with too much drama.

“There was never really any drama with Toto – ‘we are winning because we are the best!’”

Horner and Wolff have locked horns on plenty of occasions over the years. None more so over the last few seasons, with Red Bull hugely out-performing Mercedes.

Both team principals have wound each other up in recent months over their new driver searches. Wolff repeatedly spoke publicly of his desire to sign Verstappen as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement.

Horner has got revenge in recent weeks, insisting he is considering signing Silver Arrows star George Russell. The 26-year-old’s contract expires at the end of 2025, with no agreement yet made over an extension.

“We’re not afraid to go out of the pool,” Horner recently said about potentially replacing Sergio Perez. “George Russell is out of contract at the end of next year. It would be foolish not to take that into consideration.”

Former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg pointed out the mind games, telling Sky Sports: “It’s also policy and strategy because he wants to unsettle Toto. If Toto suddenly hears Horner talking about Russell, and Russell doesn’t have a contract, Toto might think ‘Should I try to get an option on George?’ It is unsettling. It is part of the game.”

Meanwhile, Wolff said of Horner’s plot to sign Russell: “Christian is always trying to stir s*** up. It’s part of the game. George is a Mercedes driver, has been forever and hopefully will be forever. We have a long contract with him.”