Horner was dismissed from his team principal role at Red Bull shortly after the British Grand Prix earlier this year, following an internal review.
The 52-year-old later entered negotiations with Red Bull over his severance package, reaching an agreement last month.
Speaking to Sport Bild, Wolff reflected on Horner’s absence from the grid and acknowledged that the sport is missing one of its most colourful figures. “That would be a bit of an exaggeration to say I miss him personally,” Wolff said. “But it’s definitely different without Christian. He is definitely missed.
“We need personalities in this sport. There has to be a villain, and Christian was always good at that because he felt comfortable in that role.”
Wolff added that Horner’s ability to create tension and attract attention benefited Formula 1 during heated rivalries, particularly throughout the fierce 2021 title fight between Red Bull and Mercedes. “He mastered the game with the camera and knew how to use it to his advantage,” Wolff said.
“That is a bit lacking now because there is no real friction at the moment.”
Horner has reportedly explored the possibility of returning to Formula 1, with both Aston Martin and Haas confirming they have been contacted by the former Red Bull boss.
When asked about a potential comeback, Wolff remained diplomatic. “He has to decide that for himself,” he said. “I don’t know if he feels he still has something to prove, but he has shown that he knows how to win races and titles. You can’t deny him his success.”
The next round of the 2025 Formula 1 season will be the United States Grand Prix, held over 56 laps at the 5.513-kilometre Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, 19 October.
