Mercedes Formula 1 te✃am boss Toto Wolff has slammed Red Bull’s Christia𝔉n Horner as a “yapping little terrier” over comments he made about the George Russell/Max Verstappen fallout.

Four-time world champion Verstappen and Russell𒅌 have been locked in a war of words since the f♛ormer was handed a one-place grid penalty in Qatar for driving too slowly in qualifying ahead of the Mercedes driver.

Verstappen branded Russell as ‘two-faced’ amid the dispute, wh🌸ile Horner said the penalty was due to ‘hysterics’ from Russell - who is the director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association - in Qatar.

The fall🧔out fr꧂om this has spilled into Thursday at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, on his comments.

In Russell’s media debrief on Thursday - attended by wuqian0🅠821.com - Wolff also spoke, taking aim at Horner’s words 'hysterics' response.  

“I think as a team principal, it’s importantꦿ to be a sparr💙ing partner for your drivers,” he began.

“And that means explaining that things can be more nuanced. Statements that are absolutistic, taking everything is either right, 100% right or 100% wrong, is something I just think you need 🉐to explain, think of more nuance, depending from your perception and your perspective.

“You need to all𒈔ow for something to be 51-49, you need to allow for 𝓰it to be 70-30.

“There is always another side. Maybe when you look at it tha🌞t way, and you explain it to the drivers and to your teಞam, you come to the conclusion that there is truth on both sides.

“If you don’t do that, you’🥃re falling short of your r❀ole. It’s just weak.

“At the end, why 🐲does he feel entitled to comment about my driver? How does that🧸 come?

“But thinking🦄 about it, I’ve spent 90 seconds to think about it… Yapping li🌊ttle terrier. Always something to say.”

Asked why he has felt the need to respond, Wolff added: “I tell you clearly. There is a thing be💯tween drivers, and this is George and Max, and I don’t want to get involved in that, but if the other team principal calls George hyste🍨ric, this is where he crosses a line for me.

“Now, his [Horner’s] forte fo📖r sure is not intellectual psychoanalysis, but that’s quite a word. How dare you comment on the state of mind of my driver.”