The Red Bull employee who accused Formula 1 team boss Christian Horner of “inappropriate behavior” has been suspended, a close source told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Thursday, March 7. folder. A direct consequence of the internal investigation, now closed – Mr. Horner was cleared – carried out into these allegations, she said.
Questioned by AFP on the sidelines of the first free practice sessions before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah on Saturday March 9, the reigning world champion team said: “Red Bull cannot make any comments on the individual situation of a company employee. »
At the end of an internal investigation, the opening of which was announced on February 5, the board of directors of the Austrian firm rejected, last week, the woman’s complaint and renewed its confidence in the historic director of the stable.
An anonymous email
Red Bull’s decision was then criticized in the paddock, with many rival teams denouncing the lack of transparency of this procedure. Especially since, the next day, an anonymous e-mail, sent to journalists covering Formula 1, to motorsport officials as well as to competing teams, relaunched the affair. However, its contents – including WhatsApp messages allegedly written by Mr Horner – could not be independently verified.
At the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix, won by triple world champion Max Verstappen, the star driver’s father, Jos, said that Red Bull would “explode” if Christian Horner kept his job. The accused has always denied the facts with which he was accused and said he was convinced after the opening round of the season that his future at the head of the team was not threatened by the fallout from the investigation: “ A complete and lengthy internal procedure was conducted, and the grievance raised was rejected. End of the story. »
