A surprising revelation has emerged regarding the handling of a complaint of inappropriate behavior leveled against Red Bull Formula 1 team principal Christian Horner.
An inquiry into the unspecified complaint filed by a female staff member against Horner is scheduled for Friday.
Red Bull has expressed utmost seriousness in addressing the allegations since they surfaced on Monday and has initiated an investigation.
In response to queries about the allegations from Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Horner, who has led Red Bull to six constructors’ championships, asserted, “I completely deny these claims.”
While the nature of the complaint has not been confirmed by Red Bull, BBC Sport has reported that it involves accusations of inappropriate and controlling behavior, with a hearing set to convene in the UK.
Meanwhile, a report from The Times suggests that tensions between Red Bull HQ and its racing team have escalated, with the former exerting greater control. This development may have potential repercussions for Horner.
According to The Times, when approached with the allegation of a complaint against Horner on Sunday, Red Bull Racing reportedly denied it repeatedly. The publication notes that this discrepancy occurred because the complaint by the female staff member was directed to Red Bull HQ rather than the team’s HR department.
Subsequently, the soft drinks brand issued a statement without prior notification to F1 team officials. The Times report underscores not only the seriousness of the situation but also Horner’s potential vulnerability due to the apparent disconnect between the F1 team and its parent company.
In a statement released on Monday, Red Bull affirmed, “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation. This process, which is already underway, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.
The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
