Horner bites back at Wolff during ‘dog fight’

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has issued a stinging response to Toto Wolff in the latest development of the Red Bull-Mercedes saga that was ignited in Qatar.

Max Verstappen and George Russell opened a public tussle of words when the former stated he lost all respect for Russell last weekend.

Verstappen claimed Russell aggressively lobbied for a grid penalty in Lusail following an incident towards the end of qualifying.

Verstappen was handed a one-place grid drop, which Russell alleged resulted in the four-time world champion threatening to deliberately crash into him.

The situation escalated in Abu Dhabi with Wolff getting involved, with the Mercedes boss labelling Horner a “yapping little terrier” when he “crossed a line” by pointing to Russell's hysterics in Qatar.

Horner faced the media on Friday in Abu Dhabi and answered Wolff's attack with a taunt of his own.

“I love terriers,” Horner told media including RacingNews365. “They're great dogs, I've had four of them. I had a couple of West Highland terriers called Bernie and Flavio.

“The good thing about terriers, they are tremendously loyal. Bernie was an aggressive little dog, he'd go for anybody. Flavio was more chilled out, he probably ate too much as well.

“To be called a terrier, is that such a bad thing? They're not afraid to have a go at the bigger dogs.

“I'd rather be a terrier than a wolf.”

Horner clarifies 'hysterical' Russell remark

Wolff's intervention of the situation came as he took issue with Horner's “hysterical” description of Russell, expressing: “How dare you comment on the state of mind of my driver?”

However, Horner has moved to clarify his comment had nothing to do with Russell's treatment of his incident with Verstappen.

“Toto is quite dramatic as we all know,” Horner stated. “I wasn’t talking about the psychology of his driver.

“When I was referring to hysterics, I was more referring to the roasting he gave his team when they gave him a set of hards when he asked for a set of mediums and he expressed his displeasure.

“I’d get fined if I was to repeat the language used. Obviously a lot has been said. Toto likes to talk a lot, but that's the way it is.”