Red Bull has opened an independent inquiry into its Formula One team principal, Christian Horner, after various media sites reported that Horner reportedly engaged in inappropriate behavior with an unidentified Red Bull Racing employee.
“After being made aware of certain recent claims, the firm began an independent investigation (against Christian Horner),” Red Bull stated in a statement received by CNN contributor Phil Duncan, an F1 correspondent with the Press Association in London.
“This process, which is already started, is being handled by an independent specialist barrister. The company takes these issues very seriously, and the inquiry will be finished as soon as reasonably possible. The statement continues, “It would be inappropriate to discuss further at this time.
According to many unnamed individuals, Horner was accused of inappropriate behavior toward a member of Red Bull Racing in an article published Monday by Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf.
The report does not identify the team member or describe the situation.
CNN has reached out to Red Bull Racing for reaction from the team and Horner.
In a statement to De Telegraaf, the 50-year-old stated, “I fully refute these charges.”
Horner joined Red Bull’s team principal in 2005, making him the youngest in F1. He has guided the team to great success since his hiring, managing seven driver titles, and last season, the team defended their constructor championship title – the sixth under Horner – with six races remaining.
Horner would have understood how anxious the Australian was for a big finish here to compensate for a dismal start to the season in comparison to Vettel. However, he felt that 33 points in the bank for the team was preferable to the risk of, as Horner put it, “two cars in the fence,” and he attempted to call Webber off.
So a wound that had been festering for a few years was ripped open again.
There is history here, as anyone who watched the epic battle between Vettel, Webber, Alonso, and McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button in last year’s championship will remember.
Favoritism at Red Bull is a contentious topic, as Webber discovered last year at Silverstone when a front wing was removed from his vehicle and given to Vettel, whose own had failed.
Webber went on to win the race, famously saying over his radio on the closing lap: “Not bad for a number two driver.”
The issue had been simmering in the background for a long time, occasionally rising to the surface, such as at the penultimate race of last season in Brazil, when Webber stated that it was “clear” that the team favoured Vettel.
Red Bull has always disputed this, while keeping the right to call off bouts when they feel the team is at risk (a policy).
