Red Bull team manager Christian Horner is the subject of an investigation. He will lead his team’s activities in the Bahrain tests, although rumors about the sacking are strong.
The preparatory test drives for the F1 season started in Bahrain on Wednesday. However, the biggest topic of conversation is Red Bull’s long-term team manager to Christian Horner targeted investigation.
The 50-year-old Horner has led the team since 2005. According to media reports, the Englishman is accused of inappropriate behavior towards a Red Bull female employee.
Red Bull announced at the beginning of February that it had started an independent investigation into Horner, who himself has strongly denied all the accusations.
De Telegraaf according to the inappropriate use, it would be about Horner’s sent sexually tinged messages. A Dutch newspaper has also reported that Horner would have tried to offer the woman around 700,000 euros so that this would not take the matter forward.
Now Red Bull and Horner’s “blood enemy†, the team boss of Mercedes, has taken a stand on the matter. Toto Wolff. The Austrian is the first high-ranking F1 employee to comment on the matter.
Wolff hoped that the suspected misuses would be investigated accurately and transparently.
– Then we have to look at the results and what it means for F1 and how we can learn from it, Wolff stated According to the BBC.
According to Wolff, F1 teams defend equality, justice and diversity.
– These are the standards we set for ourselves. We are a global sport, one of the most important sports in the world, and we are role models.
The Mercedes boss emphasized that there has been a lot of speculation and rumors lately, but it’s not just about Red Bull, but about the bigger picture.
– That is the problem of the whole F1, Wolff said.
The management of the F1 series has also commented on the case, hoping that the accusations will be resolved – as soon as possible after a fair and thorough process†.
However, Red Bull has not been able to explain why the investigation is taking so long. The lawyer commissioned by Red Bull is expected to prepare a report, which will then be submitted to the company’s board.
When the F1 tests in Bahrain started, Viaplay’s pit reporter also commented on the topic Mervi Kallio. According to him, information had circulated in the pit that Horner would have to step down from his position.
According to Kallio’s sources, the decision has already been made.
– Why he hasn’t been poked out, if the decision has already been made, is probably due to the details being filed. Of course, this is all just speculation, Kallio reflected.