Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has opened up on life in Formula One without old rival Christian Horner.

The sport is still in shock after Horner was ‘released from operational duties’ three days after the British Grand Prix, ending the Englishman’s 20-year tenure at the helm of Red Bull.

The sensational news ended the longest reign of Formula One team principals in the sport and came a year after the scandal that engulfed him over texts he apparently sent to a female employee.

He survived accusations of coercive behaviour towards his colleague – and was twice cleared in internal investigations of wrongdoing.

He was told by his wife, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, to make the controversy ‘all go away’ and managed to do that for 16 months. However, he ultimately paid the price as results took a downturn and the happiness of star driver Max Verstappen declined.

Horner and Wolff had one of the most intense off track relationships in the history of F1 with a number of public spats over the years.

Toto Wolff (L) has opened up on life in Formula One without old rival Christian Horner (R)

Horner, pictured with wife Geri Halliwell, was  sacked by Red Bull after 20 years in charge

And Wolff was asked about their famous rivalry in an interview with Channel 4.

‘He was very often an a**hole, and I told him so,’ the German said as he reflected.

However, the underlying respect as Wolff admitted he does miss his former sparring partner.

‘In a way, I do,’ he said. ‘Because him and I, we’ve been fighting for 12 years. He’s been a ****** very often, and I told him that.

‘But you know, he was a very polarising, controversial person. He was one of the main actors in the cast here.

‘The performances and the track record speaks for himself and the team. And in that respect, him not being here, it’s almost one of the old dinosaurs gone. There’s not many left from us team principals. So it feels a bit lonely.’

Horner and Wolff’s feud dated back to long before Verstappen’s controversial world title win in 2021.

The pair first clashed in 2014 when Mercedes were ruling the sport, Horner calling for rule changes to halt their dominance.

The pair had one of the most intense off-track rivalries in the history of Formula One

Mercedes boss Wolff admitted that he does miss his former sparring partner in a way

Wolff angered Horner in 2016 when he called Verstappen’s dad Jos to question his son’s driving style after h9is crash with Nico Rosberg. Horner labelled it ‘totally wrong’ and accused the Mercedes boss of ‘meddling’.

Tensions rose even further in 2021 as Wolff branded Horner a ‘windbag who just wants to be on camera.’

The comments came after Horner had told Wolff to ‘keep his mouth shut’ and ‘be careful what you wish for’ during a row over flexi front wings.

It all  boiled over during that year’s World Championship as Verstappen and Hamilton took the title to the final day.

Horner led the Red Bull Racing team for 20 years, winning six Constructors’ championships and overseeing six Drivers’ championship titles as well in a period of widespread success.

But Horner’s reign at the top of Formula One began to unravel last February, when he became embroiled in a controversy which swept the paddock and the wider sporting world.

The 51-year-old was accused of 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual harassment and coercive and controlling behaviour by a female employee following the revelation of alleged 𝓈ℯ𝓍 texts sent by the Red Bull boss, who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell.

He was twice cleared, initially after an internal investigation conducted by a lawyer, and then by another lawyer who dismissed the female employee’s appeal. Horner has strongly denied the claims.