Red Bull chief Christian Horner is using ‘reverse psychology’, insists Mercedes boss Toto Wolff

Red Bull chief Christian Horner has been accused of using ‘reverse psychology’ as he continues to rebuke cheating allegations, according to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

Ahead of Sunday’s US Grand Prix, Horner broke his silence after the Milton Keynes-based team were found guilty of a ‘minor’ breach of last season’s £114million budget cap as Max Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton to the title. 

Many say Red Bull’s mistake ‘constituted cheating’, which Horner hit back at and said those claims were ‘tremendously disappointing’, but now Wolff claims the F1 chief is trying to play victim.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has hit back at Christian Horner’s recent rebuttal to cheating claims

While sitting next to the McLaren leader, Horner said Brown’s accusations are ‘damaging’

According to Motorsport, Wolff sarcastically responded to Horner’s claims, saying: ‘I almost had to wipe away a tear when I heard that. The fact is that nine of the 10 teams have stayed under the budget cap. 

‘The fact is that one team is now claiming to have exceeded it with alleged problems that are not performance related, but these apply to us as well.

He made reference to reports that Red Bull’s catering budget was a large factor in their overspend. ‘We too have been thinking about how many sandwiches we give people and how to overcome various financial hurdles.

‘Whether they’re over a million, two or five, it’s a financial advantage that can translate into development. So it’s a bit of reverse psychology: who is the victim here? I think it’s the nine teams.’

Wolff sarcastically claimed that he ‘wiped a tear’ after hearing Horner’s complaints on Friday

Drama started when McLaren boss Zak Brown wrote a letter earlier this month – which subsequently leaked last week to FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem – in which he implied Red Bull’s mistake ‘constituted cheating’, though he did not name them directly.

And on Friday, Horner and Brown sat side by side at side by side on the press conference stage. Horner let rip, saying: ‘Zak’s letter was… tremendously disappointing. For a fellow competitor to be accusing you of cheating, to accuse you of fraudulent activity is shocking.

‘It is absolutely shocking that another competitor, without the facts or without any knowledge of the details, can be making those kinds of accusations. We have been on trial because of public accusations since Singapore and the rhetoric of “cheats” was slung about as if we had had an enormous benefit.’ 

It was after Horner made these claims that Mercedes boss Wolff felt that his opinion on the matter needed to be voiced. 

Red Bull boss Christian Horner addressed a letter written by McLaren CEO Zak Brown Saturday

It has yet to be announced what punishment Red Bull face, though it is understood it will be both financial and sporting. The latter is likely to restrict wind-tunnel time, thus hobbling their development. 

The Mail on Sunday understands that Red Bull overspent by £1.8m, which is considerably less than the £10m figures rivals were briefing.

It is understood Red Bull claim the overspend is related to non-track areas such as catering, sick pay and gardening leave. There is also a question of how a corporation tax break relating to research and development (which is common to all seven British-based teams) is accounted for.

An audit from the FIA of the 2021 accounts found that Red Bull committed a ‘minor breach’

Red Bull’s case is that the FIA changed interpretations of the regulations after they submitted their accounts in March. Those accounts had been signed off by Ernst & Young. 

They may also be stripped of constructors’ championship points for 2021, when they finished second to Mercedes. 

Spectators chanted ‘cheater, cheater’ at Red Bull’s Verstappen when he attended a fan event prior to qualifying.