Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff caused Sky Sports to issue an on-air apology after using explicit language whilst discussing Christian Horner's potential future in Formula 1.
Speaking to presenter Natalie Pinkham following practice at the Belgian Grand Prix, Wolff suggested his former adversary might secure a position with motorsport's governing body.
"I need to be careful. He could be rocking up in the FIA, and then you know I'm really in the s***," Wolff stated during the live broadcast.
The Austrian's unfiltered comments prompted Pinkham to apologise to viewers for the expletive, which aired without censorship on Friday afternoon.
Sky Sports
|Toto Wolff swore live on TV, forcing Sky Sports into an apology
Wolff's remarks came in response to questions about Horner's unexpected departure from Red Bull, announced between the British and Belgian races after two decades leading the Milton Keynes-based team.
Laurent Mekies has been confirmed as Horner's replacement, stepping up from his position at sister team Racing Bulls.
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Despite their well-documented tensions, Wolff acknowledged he would feel Horner's absence from the paddock.
"In a way, yes [I will miss him]. He was one of the main cast," the Mercedes chief admitted.
He praised his former rival's impact on the sport, noting: "He was someone that was controversial, polarising, and not soft-washed.
"That was good from the entertainment factor, and from that perspective, he will be missed. His track record speaks for itself."
The partnership between Wolff and Horner has defined Formula 1's competitive landscape for over a decade, with their teams claiming every drivers' championship since 2010.
Their professional relationship reached its nadir during the 2021 campaign when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton contested one of the sport's most acrimonious title battles.
Netflix's Drive to Survive documented a particularly explosive confrontation between the pair in Canada the following year, where they clashed over the safety implications of the newly introduced ground-effect regulations.
Whilst their relationship had shown signs of improvement recently, the intensity of their past disputes remains a defining feature of modern Formula 1's narrative.
Wolff dismissed suggestions that his pursuit of Verstappen contributed to Horner's dismissal from Red Bull.
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Reuters | Christian Horner was brutally axed by Red Bull earlier this month
"No. There is much more in the background that we probably don't know with Red Bull," he told Sky Sports.
The Mercedes boss defended his interest in the four-time world champion, explaining: "Looking after drivers, in my position as team principal of Mercedes, I need to explore what Max is going to do in the next few years, not only next year."
Wolff expressed confidence that Horner would return to Formula 1, with speculation linking the 51-year-old to positions at Ferrari and Alpine following his departure.
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