Horner added of Wolff: “Susie is a very capable driver. Whether on merit she
would make the cut at the moment is difficult to judge. But there are some
very talented young girls coming through and it’s only a matter of time.”
Red Bull are renowned for nurturing young drivers, including Vettel and the
German’s new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, and Horner says their young driver
programme last year included a teenaged girl.
Speaking at a Leaders Sports Breakfast in London, he also insisted that Bernie
Ecclestone was the “only guy” who could run F1 as successfully as it had
been during the 83-year-old’s stewardship.
Horner has been tipped to step into Ecclestone’s shoes if bribery allegations
against the latter are proven to have foundation.
Ecclestone is awaiting the outcome of a £86 million trial relating to F1’s
sale, which has placed his future in doubt. Evidence was heard last year at
the High Court in London about the measures he allegedly took to maintain
his grip on the motorsport series, claims the billionaire denies.
Horner, who insisted that he had no desire to succeed Ecclestone, said:
“Bernie is absolutely the best and only guy to do what he does, to take
Formula One to the global reach that the sport has achieved.
“It’s in all our interests that he’s around as long as possible.”