The Red Formula 1 team’s booing appears to have emerged as the ‘winner’ in the case against his accuser, who alleged inappropriate behavior by Horner. This happened when he arrived at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, cleared of all charges by the team’s parent company. This was after a thorough and intense internal investigation conducted by the company.
An unidentified email was sent to F1 and FIA Chiefs, as well as F1 team Principals. It contained numerous WhatsApp messages, including screenshots supposedly from Horner and the accuser’s mobile phone. However, the authenticity of these messages is yet to be established.
This seems to be a form of revenge, indicating deep divisions within the Red Bull team. Horner was clearly the target of a relentless attack, which he managed to survive and even triumph over. However, 24 hours later, it is becoming apparent that his position as team principal is once again in jeopardy.
Reports suggest that Max Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, also received these emails. He was seen in the team’s pit garage during Friday’s free practice for the season opener in Bahrain.
According to Motorsport.com, the emails contained a link to a Google Drive file with the attached documents. The email stated, “Following Red Bull’s recent investigation and statements, you will be interested to see the materials attached.”
Horner responded to the new allegations with the following statement: “I will not comment on anonymous speculation, but I want to reiterate that I have always denied these allegations. I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and cooperated fully throughout. The investigation, conducted by an independent specialist barrister, was thorough and fair, and it concluded by dismissing the complaint. I am fully focused on the start of the season.”
A day earlier, Red Bull’s headquarters in Austria exonerated Horner and initiated the independent investigation. They stated, “The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr. Horner is now complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed. The complainant has the right to appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation was fair, rigorous, and impartial. The investigation report contains confidential information about the parties involved and third parties who assisted in the investigation. Therefore, we will not provide further comments out of respect for all involved parties. Red Bull will continue to strive for the highest workplace standards.”
The report is still ongoing…