According to reports, Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull, was interviewed on Friday in London as part of an inquiry into allegations of “coercive, controlling behavior” towards a team member. Horner has maintained his innocence, but the team has already suffered a significant setback as the results of the independent investigation are unlikely to be available before the unveiling of their 2024 car, the RB20, on February 15. To make matters worse, The Standard reports that the team may not even be aware of the findings before the start of the season. This is because Horner’s questioning was only a preliminary step, and the investigator needs to conduct a second interview with the accuser to respond to Horner’s answers for legal purposes. Although it is reassuring that the investigator is conducting a thorough investigation, this prolonged process is undoubtedly the last thing Red Bull wants, especially if it extends into the season.
Red Bull’s Christian Horner is currently under investigation for alleged “coercive, controlling behavior,” and recent reports suggest that the external inquiry could extend beyond the team’s car launch. Previous reports indicated that Horner would remain with the team throughout the investigation. However, the main concern is to resolve this situation as quickly as possible, irrespective of the outcome. This urgency is primarily due to the upcoming car launch on February 15, which will subject the team to intense scrutiny. While these launches are typically carefully orchestrated by the team, it would be difficult to ignore such a prominent issue. It would be far from ideal for this investigation to continue into the season, as it would inevitably become a distraction for everyone involved in the race, who will undoubtedly be bombarded with questions.
Preseason testing is scheduled to take place in Bahrain from February 21 to 23, followed by the Bahrain Grand Prix from February 29 to March 2. Hopefully, the investigation will reach a conclusive and accurate outcome. Undoubtedly, Red Bull’s top executives share this desire. They simply want a resolution as soon as possible, but it appears that this may not be achievable.
According to the Source outkick.com