McLaren’s Executive Director, Zak Brown, has called for the Formula 1 governing body, the FIA, to examine Red Bull’s inquiry into allegations against Christian Horner’s behavior towards a female colleague. Brown believes that the current process has left many “unanswered queries” and is advocating for further transparency.
Red Bull recently released a statement stating that an independent investigation into the allegations against Horner has been concluded, and the complaint has been dismissed. While specific details were not disclosed, Red Bull assured that the investigation was conducted fairly, rigorously, and impartially. However, speculation surrounding the issue persists, leading Brown to believe that more openness is necessary.
Brown expressed his concerns to the media, stating that he has read the statement and observed the ongoing rumors and speculation. He believes that the FIA, as the governing body, has a duty to ensure transparency between Red Bull and the sport. Brown emphasized the importance of thoroughness and transparency in the process, urging the FIA to reach the same conclusion as Red Bull.
Until then, Brown anticipates that speculation will persist due to the numerous unanswered questions surrounding the entire process. He believes that this state of uncertainty is detrimental to the sport and suggests that it is ultimately the responsibility of Formula One’s organizers and owners to ensure that all teams, personnel, and drivers adhere to the same standards.
Brown does not believe that it is the teams’ role or responsibility to address these matters, emphasizing that it is the duty of the sport’s governing body to oversee and regulate such issues.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff concurred with Brown’s viewpoint that additional clarity is necessary in relation to Red Bull’s investigation, considering the global reach and influence of Formula 1. However, Wolff emphasized that his perspective is based on an external observation of the situation. He highlighted that a member of an organization reported an issue to the HR department, which was subsequently investigated and resulted in a message affirming that everything is satisfactory. Nevertheless, Wolff expressed the belief that, given the sport’s status as a global entity, there should be greater transparency and he questioned the official stance of Formula 1. He stressed the importance of not leaving critical matters ambiguous or obscure, as this could have detrimental consequences. In today’s highly transparent world, it is inevitable that incidents will occur. Wolff suggested that attempting to suppress such incidents without acknowledging their occurrence may be short-sighted. From an external perspective, it appears that Formula 1’s approach to these matters may not be as progressive as the standards of the real world. It is possible that the sport exists within its own isolated sphere and perceives this as acceptable.