Toto Wolff makes 'in the shit' suggestion over future of bitter F1 rival Christian Horner

Toto Wolff has joked he could be "in the shit" if former Red Bull boss Christian Horner "rocks up at the FIA."

Horner was dismissed by Red Bull between the British and Belgian Grands Prix, bringing to an end his 20-year reign, in turn making Wolff the longest-serving team boss, the Austrian joining Mercedes in 2013.

During the 2021 season, Horner and Wolff developed a bitter feud as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton fought for the drivers' title, with Netflix's Drive to Survive capturing an explosive argument between the pair in Canada the next year over the safety of the then-new ground-effect cars.

Relations had improved between the two in recent times, with Horner widely tipped to make a return to F1 in some form after taking some time to spend with his family. 

Addressing Horner's exit for the first time, Wolff explained why he could be in trouble in the future.

"In a way, yes," Wolff told Sky Sports F1 when asked if he was going to miss Horner.

"He was one of the main [characters] and I don't think he has gone forever, I think he's going to pop up in some kind of function. 

"I need to be careful, he could be rocking up at the FIA, and then I am really in the shit, so you never know.

"But if you look at it, he was a main protagonist, he was controversial and polarising and not soft-washed, and that is good from the entertainment factor.

"From that perspective, he is going to be missed, and his track record speaks for itself."

Wolff then added that he had not been in contact with Horner yet, but was planning to do so. 

"No, not yet, I didn't find it appropriate for the time being, but I certainly will [contact him]."