Christian Horner is reportedly facing dismissal from his position at Red Bull due to a power struggle with Helmut Marko. An update has been provided by a correspondent from Sky Sports regarding Red Bull’s investigation into allegations of ‘inappropriate behavior’ against Horner. On Friday, Horner, who has been in charge of Red Bull Racing since 2005, was questioned by an independent lawyer regarding the complaint. The parent company, Red Bull Gmbh, located near Salzburg, has stated that it is taking the allegations against Horner very seriously. Although the exact nature of the complaint has not been revealed by the team, Horner has denied the accusations in a statement to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. The BBC reports that Horner also rejected the claims during an F1 Commission meeting attended by team principals, the governing body FIA, and Formula 1’s commercial rights holders.
During the ongoing hearing, Craig Slater, a reporter from Sky Sports, provided an update on the situation, suggesting that a swift resolution is unlikely. Speaking on Sky Sports News, Slater stated that the discussions between Christian Horner and the investigator are still ongoing at a confidential location in London. The initial plan was to hold the meeting at Red Bull headquarters in Milton Keynes, but due to media attention, the venue was changed. Horner has been participating in this meeting and interview process since approximately 10 o’clock in the morning, and it is expected to conclude around 6 pm. This is the first interview Horner has given since the matter came to light. A female employee and colleague at Red Bull Racing have accused Horner of engaging in ‘controlling and coercive’ behavior, and Horner is currently being informed about some of the specific details of the allegation against him. It is unlikely that a resolution will be reached by the end of the day, and it seems that this process may take a considerable amount of time.
In other news, it has been reported that Adrian Newey may leave Red Bull if Christian Horner is dismissed. Red Bull is conducting a thorough investigation that will not be influenced by the F1 schedule. The team has a car launch scheduled for next Thursday, and it is possible that the investigation may extend beyond that event, potentially even into the start of pre-season testing on the 20th of this month. The first Grand Prix of the season is scheduled for March 2. Red Bull is committed to handling this matter properly and ensuring fairness for all parties involved.
According to the Source formula1news.co.uk