What consequences does the accusation of inappropriate behavior have for Christian Horner? The decision about the most successful team boss in Formula 1 is coming up.
According to a report from the British broadcaster Sky Sports, it will be announced before the first training sessions at the start of the season on Saturday (March 2nd, 2024) in Bahrain whether Horner can stay with the world champion racing team Red Bull. In other words: this Tuesday or Wednesday.
No matter how it turns out, a certain amount of damage already seems to be there given how an employee’s allegations are handled. The designated engine partner Ford complained about the lack of transparency in the refurbishment. Formula 1, owned by the American company Liberty Media, also pushed for a quick clarification.
Investigation by an external specialist lawyer
The parent company Red Bull, where former Leipzig football official Oliver Mintzlaff has been one of the managing directors responsible for Formula 1 since the death of company founder Dietrich Mateschitz, announced on February 5th that allegations against Horner were alleged inappropriate behavior would be examined.
An external specialist lawyer was commissioned to do this. “The Company takes these matters very seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as possible“, it was said at the time.
Horner rejects allegations
At the presentation of Red Bull Racing’s new racing car ten days later, Horner explained in a media round: “There is a process that is currently underway. Some allegations have been made which I completely reject. I am fully participating in this process and will continue to do so until it is completed.”
For him, however, business continues as normal. During the test drives last week, Horner also did his job as team boss.
Schumacher: “Great unrest in the team”
“The unrest in the team is relatively great and you can hear that there was also trouble behind the scenes. The question is whether people are so divided that they can no longer actually work together“, TV expert and ex-racing driver Ralf Schumacher told the German Press Agency. There had already been speculation last season about a power struggle between the camp around Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, who is close to world champion Max Verstappen, and Horner.
Should Horner be replaced, Ralf Schumacher does not necessarily see this as an impairment for Verstappen’s ambitions for a fourth World Cup triumph in a row. A new person in charge would have to be able to quickly restore calm,”Then I don’t see any danger for the team. I can imagine that another person would also be able to manage Red Bull Racing“said Ralf Schumacher.
Many world titles under Horner
Horner has been the team boss since Red Bull entered Formula 1. Sebastian Vettel won the Drivers’ World Championship with him from 2010 to 2013 and Verstappen has won it since 2021. Horner has been married to Geri Halliwell, a former member of the girl group Spice Girls, since 2015.