Horner is clearly making every effort to maintain his innocence, and the fact that Red Bull has appointed an external adjudicator to investigate the allegations indicates that the team is taking them very seriously. The outcome of this investigation will be crucial for the 50-year-old British team principal.
De Telegraaf initially reported on the internal complaint against Horner, which they now claim involves allegations of sexual misconduct based on WhatsApp messages that their journalists have seen. According to the Dutch publication, the messages exchanged between Horner and the female Red Bull employee indicate that he frequently sent sexually suggestive content to her over a significant period of time.
The report from De Telegraaf also reveals that on 2 February, Horner’s legal team offered a settlement of £650,000 ($750,000) to the female employee’s legal representatives. It provides further details of the allegations of sexual misconduct by Horner, which allegedly occurred regularly over an extended period.
Despite the controversy surrounding him, Horner was present at the team’s recent launch and played a prominent role in the presentation of the new RB20 car. The event featured appearances by Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, as well as technical chief Adrian Newey.
During the launch and shakedown, Horner spoke to reporters and emphatically denied all the allegations made against him. He stated that it is business as usual for him, and he remains focused on the upcoming season.
However, if the allegations go beyond bullying or being a tough boss and involve sexual misconduct, it is likely that Horner will not remain in his position for much longer. The evidence against him is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. However, it is important to remember that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Regardless of the outcome (whether guilty or not), this scandal is something that no organization ever wants, especially not an F1 team preparing for the upcoming 2024 season. It creates an uncomfortable situation for everyone involved, no matter how you look at it.
Horner is vigorously defending himself, taking a prominent role at the launch and being present during the shakedown at Silverstone, maintaining a “business as usual” approach.
The situation has also caught the attention of Liberty Media, who released a statement saying, “We have taken note that Red Bull has initiated an independent investigation into internal allegations at Red Bull Racing. We hope that the matter will be resolved as soon as possible through a fair and thorough process. At this time, we will refrain from making any further comments.”
According to reports from British media, the investigation was carried out by an external arbitrator appointed by Red Bull GmBH, and the findings are expected to be released on Friday. The Red Bull board will then review the findings and decide on the appropriate course of action regarding Horner, if necessary.
F1 testing is set to begin in Bahrain this Wednesday, and it is expected that Horner will be present, as he has been since taking on the role of team principal at RBR in 2005. However, it remains uncertain how much longer he will be seen on the Red Bull pitwall. We will have to wait and see.
According to the Source grandprix247.com