Toto Wolff revealed Red Bull’s replies to his texts, with Max Verstappen and Christian Horner being good winners.
Mercedes and Red Bull contested an epic battle for both championships. While Red Bull ended Mercedes’ Drivers’ Championship streak through Verstappen, the German team extended their Constructors’ Championship-winning streak to eight years.
It was a very even contest that went right down to the wire, the wire being the last lap of the last race of the season. Such was the intensity and competitiveness that F1 hadn’t seen such a titanic duel for many years.
Wolff revealed Red Bull’s replies to his congratulatory texts, saying that both champion and team principal was cordial and gracious.
As quoted by Planet F1, the Mercedes team principal stated that Verstappen replied to his text saying, “Thank you very much. It was a tough battle, I am looking forward to next year.”
As for his 2021 rival Horner, the Austrian was quoted as saying, “He wrote that it was a good duel and that we must not forget we are eight-time Constructors’ Champions.”
Respect
Although Mercedes and Red Bull and in particular Wolff and Horner were at each other’s throats, it is nice to hear this kind of talk. It shows that underneath all the blame games, accusations and politics, there is a healthy level of respect between the two teams.
Verstappen revealed the details of his chat with Wolff right before the season finale and said that he respected the competitiveness and desire the Mercedes boss showed.
“The relationship – I think I can be a forgiving person, but at the moment it’s still all so new…that it’s better not to talk about it too much,” he said.
“But I saw Toto in Monaco before Saudi, I had dinner and he was sitting at the table next to me and we had a chat. He, of course, goes flat out for his team and I know mine also do everything they can.”