“I Grew Up in the Industry”: Christian Horner on What Separates Him From Toto Wolff

Amid driver rivalries, the duo of Christian Horner and Toto Wolff definitely steal the spotlight when it comes to their own little battle while leading two of the most successful teams in F1. Recently, they dusted off their old boxing gloves once again when Max Verstappen and George Russell squared off after the 2024 Qatar GP.

In the aftermath of their drivers’ comments, Wolff ended up calling Horner a “little terrier”, and on TalkSPORT’s latest podcast, the Red Bull Racing team principal and CEO shot back. Speaking about Wolff, the Briton was quick to comment on the Austrian’s differing mentality.

“We’re very different people. I grew up within the industry, you know, I’m an ex-racer now turned [team] manager and CEO. Toto came from the financial sector so, he perhaps has a different outlook to me. [We] just go about things in different ways,” explained the 51-year-old.

Horner responds to Wolff’s comments calling him a “yapping little terrier” pic.twitter.com/uumK8wdnOW

— Autosport (@autosport) December 6, 2024

Horner’s definition of Wolff might just be a tad inaccurate, however. As it turns out, Wolff was an ex-racing driver himself. But a short-lived career out on the track inspired him to get to know the business of racing so well that he’d end up running F1’s most successful dynasty.

How did Wolff get into Formula 1?

With the advent of the turbo-hybrid era of F1, Wolff has gone on to win eight consecutive Constructors’ titles with Mercedes from 2014 to 2021. Moreover, his partnership with Lewis Hamilton has seen the Brackley-based team become home to statistically the greatest F1 driver in the history of the sport.

And while Wolff does indeed come from a financial background, it would be amiss to state that he doesn’t understand motor racing. As Wolff went into the business side of things, he reinvested his money into the sport. A chance came with Daimler back in the day and he was dropped into the Mercedes F1 project’s hot seat.

This fact isn’t lost on Horner, however, who has seemingly shot back at the Austrian after the Verstappen-Russell bust-up. But rivalries like these on the pit wall are what make this sport so entertaining for everyone involved.

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“He Got a Little Bit Lucky”: Guenther Steiner on Why Max Verstappen’s 2024 Campaign Ranks Above 2021

Max Verstappen was in for a roller coaster ride in 2024 as he had to face immense competition to win his fourth consecutive world title. It was a tumultuous season with Red Bull’s form deteriorating due to a problematic car concept that frustrated the Dutchman. Still, he managed to overcome those struggles to clinch another championship in a convincing fashion.

Many, including Verstappen, feel that the 2024 title triumph was the best of his four titles. Even Guenther Steiner agrees. “I think this is the best one. I think this one for him ranks first,” Steiner said on the Red Flags podcast.

The hosts then chimed in to ask if 2024 was better than Verstappen’s maiden championship in 2021. On this, Steiner said,

“Yeah, 2021 in the end, he got a little bit lucky, to say the least. But this one, he had to fight for it, he was strategic. He had a lot of things going against him. For me, this one was his best one”.

The former Haas boss was referring to the Safety Car chaos that unfolded in the dying embers of the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP. Verstappen was way behind Lewis Hamilton before Nicholas Latifi crashed on lap 54, which set in motion a chain of events that caused a lot of controversy but also helped the Dutchman secure his maiden championship.

Cut to 2024, Verstappen was once again facing fierce competition for race wins just like he faced from Hamilton in 2021. This time, it was multifold with several other drivers being in winning contention, complicating the Red Bull driver’s title defense.

Unmatched in 2024 #F1 @Max33Verstappen pic.twitter.com/6prk5lNrVO

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 11, 2024

Nevertheless, Verstappen eked out the last ounce of performance from his car to secure the title. But in 2025, that may not be the case.

2025 could be Verstappen’s toughest test

Several other teams besides Red Bull took a step forward in performance in 2024. McLaren and Ferrari were the two prominent constructors that overtook the Austrian outfit in the pecking order to finish first and second in the championship. Naturally, they would be on the front foot heading into the 2025 season as the best two teams.

Moreover, with the ailing troubles of the RB20 concept, there is no guarantee that Red Bull will be able to provide race-winning machinery to Verstappen for the last season of the ground-effect era. Even if they can resolve their issues and get back in the fight as the 2025 season progresses, the defending world champion could mostly be on the back foot at the start.

And it was evident how Verstappen’s early season dominance in 2024 helped him secure the championship. The points advantage cushion he created in the initial 10 races of the season did not take much damage till the end of the season.

In 2025, other drivers like Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, or Oscar Piastri could be in his position. So, Verstappen could have a steep climb to secure a fifth consecutive drivers’ title — a feat only Michael Schumacher has been able to achieve.

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Lewis Hamilton Contemplates Opening a Museum of His Cars and Racing Gear to Inspire Next Generation

As Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes bid farewell to each other, the seven-time F1 champion took one final walk down memory lane. He recently visited Mercedes’ warehouse along with team principal Toto Wolff and the two had a moment of nostalgia after looking at all the team’s past cars, the engines, and also some iconic helmet collections.

Looking at several of Hamilton’s helmets in the warehouse, Wolff suggested the 39-year-old should open a museum. Hamilton, seemingly happy with Wolff’s suggestion, explained how it would be cool for him to show some of his cars and racing gears to aspiring racers to motivate them as to what is possible if one puts in the hard work.

“I could do a little museum,” Hamilton replied to Wolff before adding what would be its purpose. “Just for young people, I think for kids to go by and see what’s possible from where it starts. From the small radio-controlled car to this (pointing at all the cars in Mercedes’ warehouse),” the Briton explained.

A trip down memory lane with Lewis, Toto and @PET_Motorsports ️

Revisiting the iconic cars that forged the most successful partnership in @F1 history

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 19, 2024

Among all the collections that Mercedes had in their warehouse, Hamilton’s helmets were perhaps the most striking. All of the Briton’s exquisite customized lids were available in the warehouse, prompting the 39-year-old to praise Wolff for making immense efforts to store all of them.

The video then ends with Wolff giving Hamilton an emotional departing message — “It’s the end of a phase in our lives which was racing together. From 2013 until now, what good times we had and how much we fought”.

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Throwback: When Toto Wolff Vetoed Niki Lauda’s ‘Handshake’ Deal to Help Red Bull

Red Bull and Mercedes are sworn rivals in F1 today but there was a time when the two were close to joining hands, thanks to Niki Lauda. For Toto Wolff, however, this was a big no and he straight-up put an end to all talks.

Between 2010 and 2013, Red Bull dominated F1, winning four Consecutive Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships, led by Sebastian Vettel‘s brilliance. They had achieved this success thanks to the powerful Renault power units, but by the time the 2014 season had started, it started faltering.

Reliability issues and performance became a problem, and the once strong relationship between Renault and Red Bull took a hit. The Milton-Keynes-based outfit finished 296 points behind winners Mercedes that year, which prompted them to approach the Silver Arrows for their power units, which were the strongest on the grid.

Lauda, a three-time World Champion and one of the key figures behind Mercedes’ success, had no concerns with such a deal. The Race reported that there was a ‘handshake agreement’ between Lauda and Red Bull, but Wolff vetoed it.

“We are united with a flat no. But we had some discussions over the summer,” the Austrian Team Principal had said. Since Wolff is a 33% owner of Mercedes’ F1 team, his decision was final.

Red Bull’s troubles with finding an engine supplier

For Red Bull, Mercedes’ rejection turned out to be a problem. That’s because they had already told Renault that they wouldn’t continue with them after 2014.

It left the Austrian team scrambling for new partners, and they approached both Ferrari and Honda for the same. Ferrari had no problems with supplying engines to Red Bull, but only ones with a ‘year-old specification’, which Red Bull, of course, rejected.

McLaren Red Bull
Ditching Renault #F1 pic.twitter.com/3rTYni4HBa

— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) September 28, 2019

The problem with Honda lay in the fact that McLaren had an exclusive deal signed with the Japanese manufacturers, and the Woking-based outfit was not planning on letting them team up with Red Bull. Ultimately, Red Bull returned to Renault, humbled, and signed a costly deal to continue with the French manufacturer.

In fact, Red Bull relied on sponsors such as Tag Heuer to cover the cost of the engines supplied by Renault. They remained with Renault until the end of the 2018 season, after which Honda partnered with Red Bull.

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“Lamar Jackson Is Only 1–4 Against the Steelers”: Jon Gruden Delivers Some Positive News to Russell Wilson Ahead of AFC-North Showdown

The hype around the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers matchup this weekend is growing, and Jon Gruden is bought in as well. The former Super Bowl-winning head coach decided to make the matchup one of his previews of the week on his YouTube channel. During the video, he pointed out the struggles that Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have had against the Steel City in recent years.

“Lamar Jackson is only 1-4 in his career against these Steelers,” Gruden said as he pointed to his whiteboard filled with scribbles and pointers. “It’s the one team that seems to have solved the great Lamar Jackson.”

The former Raiders head coach supported his claims with evidence too. In his career against the Steelers, Jackson has five touchdowns but eight interceptions. And he’s been held to a 66.7 quarterback rating, which is 10 points lower than his season average. This is great news for Russell Wilson and the Steelers.

When a quarterback knows that the defense behind him is going to get stops, it allows them to feel free to make risky throws and take chances in hopes of a big play. And oftentimes, they do succeed.

Gruden also pointed out that Ravens star running back, Derrick Henry, has equally struggled against the Steelers in his career. Going back to his Tennessee Titans days, Henry is currently 0-4 all-time against Pittsburgh. He only rushed for 65 yards and coughed up the ball in the Week 11 game. Henry is going to need to be a presence if the Ravens are going to come out victorious on Sunday.

Head-to-head, this is only the fourth time the quarterbacks have ever matched up. So far, Jackson has gotten the better of Russ with a 2-1 record. But that was when Wilson was with the Broncos and Seahawks. In the latest matchup, Wilson and the Steelers were able to grind out a victory behind six field goals from Chris Boswell.

Gruden’s Prediction

Regardless of the previous matchup, Gruden still liked the Ravens’ chances, especially with last year’s MVP behind center.

“I still think it’s going to be a relatively low-scoring game, but I got the Baltimore Ravens winning this game 27-17,” Gruden predicted.

It’s definitely going to be an uphill battle for the Steelers. They have to go on the road, and the Ravens are 4-2 at home this season. Although Pittsburgh has handled away games well so far, coming out with a 5-3 record. However, ESPN’s analytics give Baltimore a 66.8% chance of winning this game.

These teams have changed since they last met each other, mostly due to injuries. And the Steelers have felt the worst of it. They’ve been without wideout George Pickens for two weeks due to a hamstring issue, and there’s a possibility of the receiver missing a third straight contest. The biggest question Gruden and the media want to know, though, is if TJ Watt can play.

The dominant defensive end hurt his ankle last week and is also in danger of missing the action. It would be a massive loss, as Watt has recorded 11.5 sacks this year. He was a big reason why Henry was stifled last outing. Moreover, it’s a short week as they play on Saturday, and it’s going to be hard for Watt to recover in time. And it could lead to a massive advantage for the Ravens.

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California vs UNLV: No National Anthem, Rob Gronkowski Is Set for a “Specialized Grand Entrance” at SoFi Stadium

Rob Gronkowski is set to kick off the proceedings at SoFi Stadium for the California vs. UNLV matchup in the LA Bowl. Last year, the future Hall of Famer hosted the game and opened by singing the national anthem. But singing isn’t one of Gronk’s strong suits, so this year, he plans to pivot to something that’s more in his wheelhouse.

Gronk joined Kay Adams to discuss what he has on the tab for the LA Bowl. When asked if he was going to sing again, Gronk responded with a resounding no, saying “people’s ears were hurting” the last time he did it. This year, he is going to do a “specialized grand entrance” for the players.

“The grand opening entrance that I’m doing this year isn’t really about me, it’s just me introducing the teams coming out of the tunnel — which is going to be really cool. I’m going to be on the microphone like ‘Here come the California Golden Bears!'” Gronk explained.

It should make for a fun atmosphere to start the game, similar to the starting lineup announcements at the beginning of NBA games. And this game needs all the excitement and hype it can get because it’s not exactly an eye-catching matchup. This is why the bowl directors decided to attach Gronk’s name to the game in the hopes of casual viewers tuning in just to see Gronkowski.

Gronkowski got this Gig Without Paying

Traditionally, if a celebrity wants to be involved with the naming of anything in sports, they need to shell out some cash. According to research, a game like this should cost anyone $300k to attach their name to it. But in this case, the LA bowl-makers decided to hire Gronk and formerly Kimmel in an effort to boost the ratings. Not only that, but it helped the two gain exposure in their own respective careers.

Last season the LA Bowl saw the 7-5 UCLA Bruins take on the 8-5 Boise State Broncos — not exactly an exciting matchup. But because Gronk hosted and sang the national anthem, the game received higher ratings than initial predictions. The deal, however, goes both ways, as Gronkowski declined to comment if he was compensated for the role — leading many to believe he wasn’t.

The situation is a reflection of where lower-tiered bowl games are inevitably heading. The ratings for other bowl games have dropped dramatically in recent years. And who knows how low they get this year with the advent of the 12-team playoff.

The future for lower-stakes bowl games revolves around media and sponsor creations rather than the talent on the actual field. It’s a weird and kind of sad reality for the players, but it’s just the way the audience has shifted lately.

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“I’m Not Really Shocked”: Jon Gruden Wasn’t Surprised to See Bill Belichick Showing Interest in the UNC Job

After nearly half a century of coaching NFL teams, not many had Bill Belichick coaching in the NCAA on their bucket list. However, as fate would have it, or perhaps it was a strategic plan Belichick had cooked up, the former Patriots head coach has taken the reins of the UNC Tar Heels with a five-year contract. This move came as unexpectedly as his decision to part ways with Tom Brady in 2020, but Jon Gruden understands and supports the decision Belichick made last week.

On the latest episode of Bussin’ With The Boys, Gruden said that he wasn’t shocked at all when the Belichick-UNC marriage was announced. The former Raiders HC thinks that Belichick will not only spearhead an NCAA program in Chapel Hill, which he considers a good place, but will also have the chance to bring his son, Stephen, along. And in due time, Belichick can pass the baton to his son.

“I’m not really shocked as many people are. I think he’s got a son, who is a very good young coach. The opportunity to maybe bring your son to Chapel Hill… there’s a lot of good stuff there… finish your coaching career (there) with your son (will be a good ending).”

The Tar Heels have struggled significantly in the ACC; it’s the basketball team that the program is known for. However, like many, Gruden believes that Belichick can push the football program back to relevance in the coming years.

“Perhaps (he can) get the program back to where people say, ‘Wow, we gotta play North Carolina,'” Gruden added.

Gruden also has a theory about why Belichick ultimately decided to move to Chapel Hill. During the sit-down interview, he mentioned reading about Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend and suggested that perhaps a change could be good for the couple. Having coached the Patriots for over two decades—most of the 21st century—this transition, in Gruden’s eyes, makes even more sense.

“He has got a new girlfriend. I see that all over the internet… And I think Belichick might be looking for something different. How would you like to live in New England for 15 years? Pretty young girlfriend, have some fun, kick some ass.”

Whatever Belichick has in mind, it will take time for the Tar Heels to establish their foothold in the NCAA. The new head coach has always been no-nonsense, and the staff he’s assembling will reflect the same approach.

Belichick implemented the same strategy in New England, and even pro players weren’t fans of it. Who knows how college athletes will respond.

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Lou Williams Wishes Fans Would Give Joel Embiid Some Grace Amid Backlash Over Load Management

Joel Embiid is facing the heat for his underwhelming performances for the 76ers this season. It doesn’t help that he suffered from a sinus fracture recently, which makes it difficult for him to breathe. While many believe that Embiid needs to do better in terms of getting fitter and managing his schedule, the 76ers star has found some sympathy in former Clippers point guard, Lou Williams.

On Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast, the three-time Sixth of the Year award winner claimed that while he can understand fans not being happy with the center, they should cut him some slack. Embiid, who has just played four games this season, is not absent due to his lack of desire to play for the 76ers, according to Williams.

“I don’t want to say give the players too much grace because heavy is the head that wears the crown… But some of these things, like Joel Embiid [‘s situation], is above his head. And he goes out and has to be the person that explains this without anybody else backing him. There’s not a KJ or Elton Brand standing next to him saying, ‘Yo this is a collaborative decision that we’re making as an organization. Not just Joel.'” 

The retired guard argued that the 76ers front office’s decision to let Embiid break the news about his load management put him in the critics’ crosshairs. He believes the team should have protected the center and clarified that the heavily critiqued preemptive move to protect him from injuries was a team decision, not the center’s demand.

Joel Embiid’s declaration about back-to-back games caused a massive stir

After the 76ers acquired Paul George and handed Tyrese Maxey a contract extension in the offseason, they were touted as one of the title favorites. Embiid was tasked with spearheading their championship aspirations and taking Philadelphia to the promised land. However, fans had to subvert their expectations almost immediately.

The center, who missed 43 games last season but opted to represent Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics, missed the 76ers’ first nine games due to a knee injury. The team also announced he wouldn’t play any back-to-back games this season. The problem with that? Philadelphia has 15 matches on subsequent nights in the 2024-25 season.

Embiid preemptively skipping 20% of the team’s regular season schedule did not sit well with fans. There were questions about commitment to the team. Some claimed he had no desire to win a championship. The criticism was loud and it hasn’t dissipated because he has played only six of the 76ers’ 24 games.

The once revered ‘Troel’ Embiid no longer exists. The fans chased him away and what’s left is a center fighting to prove that he is committed to his team and the sport.

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Legendary RB Barry Sanders Sends Saquon Barkley a Special Gift With a Heartfelt Message After Steelers Win

Saquon Barkley is having the best season of his career in his debut year with the Eagles, and naturally, he has caught the attention of Barry Sanders, a Hall of Famer ball carrier himself.

Barkley had a quiet day against the Steelers in a victory on Sunday, but to make up for it, he received an awesome gift from the former Lions running back. It was one of Barry’s old jerseys, with a powerful message written on the back, along with his signature.

Inside the zero on his number 20, Barry wrote, “To Saquon, I love the fact that you’re showing everyone how valuable you really are.”

pic.twitter.com/Kpdp1VuCMd

— Semper (@Semper152892) December 16, 2024

It’s a message that alludes to the most recent off-seasons, during which running backs have been severely underpaid compared to other positions, leading many to question their true value. But, Sanders is appreciative of Saquon for keeping the elite running back torch alive, showing once again that they are as important as any skill players.

Saquon seemed elated by the gift as well. He captioned the pic of the jersey on his story saying, “@BarrySanders Thank you.” A message he delivered in all caps accompanied by two goat emojis to show love.

Although the back was born in 1997 and never got to watch Sanders play, there’s still plenty of NFL Films footage to marvel at from Big Bad Barry.

The Legend of Sanders

Sanders was one of the greatest running backs the league had ever seen. He made the Pro Bowl and either the first or second All-Pro team in every year of his 10 seasons. He led the league in rushing four times and is only one of eight backs to rush for 2000 yards in a season. Even though Sanders never really came close to a Super Bowl, he’s still a legendary player widely respected among the NFL community.

At the time of his retirement, Barry was still playing at a high level. It came as a shock to many that he had decided to hang up his cleats. But he attributed it to a number of reasons.

Team performance was a big one, as the Lions finished 5-11 in his final season. But Sanders also mentioned that injuries, missing former teammates, and a simple lack of passion for the game all contributed to the decision. Now, he serves as a brand ambassador for his former team.

Barry also works with EA Sports on Madden and several other endeavors. Despite the busy schedule that he must have, Barry still found the time to give an early Christmas present to one of the best running backs in the league right now. Saquon is enjoying the best season of his career after being traded to Philadelphia.

He’s already rushed for more than 300 yards higher than his career high, and there are still three games to go. Saquon currently leads the league in rushing and rushing yards per game. And if the Eagles make a concerted effort, he could join Sanders in the 2000-yard rushing club by season’s end.

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Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson Roasted for Bad Soccer Skills and “Sh*t” Hairdo by AngryGinge

AngryGinge, the popular British streamer, and content creator, has made headlines in the gaming world as the first UK member of Red Bull’s esports team. Known for his bold, no-holds-barred internet persona, AngryGinge has kept his roasting style alive even after joining one of the most recognized gaming teams in the world.

This time, his sharp wit was aimed at Formula 1 drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, as they tried their luck at soccer. In a video clip shared by the official RB Instagram page, Tsunoda and Lawson were attempting some basic soccer drills, including keep-ups.

AngryGinge had plenty to say about their skills — or lack thereof. “Oh, he’s got a bit,” Ginge said, referring to Tsunoda’s soccer technique, but he quickly changed his mind. “No, he hasn’t, never mind. Football’s not for everyone, is it? He’s giving it a go though, bless him. Yeah, sh*t, absolutely sh*t.” He didn’t let Lawson off easy either, calling him out for his shambolic attempt at doing keep-ups.

And if that wasn’t enough, AngryGinge also aimed at Tsunoda’s appearance, adding, “His hair is sh*t as well, yeah, f**ing terrible.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Visa Cash App RB F1 Team (@visacashapprb)

Interestingly, AngryGinge has never been one to hold back — even about Red Bull itself. Before officially joining their gaming team, he poked fun at their Formula 1 setup in one of his reaction videos.

Struggling to understand why Red Bull has two teams in the championship, he jokingly referred to RB, Red Bull’s sister team, as “Sugar-free Red Bull.”

This didn’t sit well with Tsunoda, however, who took the opportunity to correct Ginge after he joined Red Bull. “It’s Visa Cash App RB, not Sugar-free Red Bull,” he snapped at Ginge.

Despite his roasts, AngryGinge’s love for Formula 1 and its drivers is undeniable. He’s been a vocal fan of McLaren driver Lando Norris for years. The two even streamed the popular game Valorant together earlier this year.

Ginge also collaborated with the Briton’s content group, Quadrant, in a video where he attempted to follow Norris’ rigorous training routine.

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EXCLUSIVE: Ayrton Senna’s Trusted Aide Recalls Taking ‘Leap of Faith’ by Joining Him Before F1 Fame

Ayrton Senna, one of F1’s most influential and brilliant figures, wanted people with a strong work ethic close to him. Keith Sutton was one of them, and when Senna saw his photography skills, he didn’t hesitate in setting off on a quest to bring the Briton on board.

Senna was in Formula Ford when he met Sutton and impressed by his work, he decided to ask him to be his personal photographer. However, as Sutton admitted in an exclusive interview with The SportsRush, he wasn’t too sure about what would happen. Sutton was just a freelance photographer when Senna approached him.

“Back then, he was just starting to make a name for himself in the UK racing scene, but there were no guarantees he’d make it to Formula 1 or even higher levels of motorsport,” Sutton said. “He had immense talent, but many drivers with potential never get the chance to rise through the ranks.”

However, there was something about Senna that Sutton admired. “It was his determination, his aura, and the way he believed in himself and the fact he would pay me for my services…” he added.

“I took a leap of faith, trusting both his talent and my instinct, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my career,” Sutton said. Senna and Sutton started working in 1981 and developed a close bond, working together until the Brazilian reached the pinnacle of motorsport in 1984. That’s when their professional relationship took a hit.

When Senna asked Sutton to give up on his dream

Sutton always had the dream of running his own business, even while he was clicking pictures for Senna. However, as the Sao-Paolo-born driver grew up the ranks, he began to seek Sutton’s undivided attention.

Senna asked him to shut down his business, something Sutton had to say no to. “It wasn’t an easy decision because I had immense respect for him and knew how much he valued loyalty and commitment,” Sutton said. However, for the sake of his career, Sutton had to part ways with the driver who would go on to become a three-time World Champion in F1.

“Ultimately, I think he respected that choice because it reflected the same independence and determination that he himself embodied. It was never about saying no to Ayrton—it was about saying yes to my own dream,” Sutton continued.

Sutton would eventually realize his dream, running an empire in motorsports photography with Sutton Images, which he was in charge of until 2017. Since then, he has been running a wellness center, with F1 drivers like Sergio Perez paying him visits.

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