Red Bull F1 Team Boss Christian Horner Stays In Charge After Complaint Dismissed – News18

SAKHIR, Bahrain: Red Bull dismissed the allegations of misconduct towards group principal Christian Horner on Wednesday, closing an investigation that has overshadowed the beginning of the Formula 1 season.

Horner will stay in control of the champion F1 group after Red Bull’s inner investigation cleared him of alleged misconduct towards a group worker.

The particulars of the allegations haven’t been made public however the investigation had been the most important speaking level within the run-as much as this weekend’s season-opening race in Bahrain. The Red Bull announcement got here shortly after the group drivers had completed their common pre-race media availability and fewer than 24 hours earlier than the primary observe session.

“The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr. Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed. The complainant has a right of appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial,” the Red Bull dad or mum firm mentioned in a press release.

“The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and therefore we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned. Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.”

Red Bull gained all however one race final season and its driver Max Verstappen is the three-time defending champion.

Horner had remained in his put up in the course of the investigation as a part of what he known as a “business as normal” method, and was in control of the group for preseason checks final week, whilst he admitted the investigation was a distraction. He had denied wrongdoing.

F1 and the governing physique, the FIA, didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark following Red Bull’s assertion that the grievance towards Horner had been dismissed.

Speaking earlier than the announcement, Mercedes driver and 7-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton mentioned the investigation into Horner was a take a look at of the game’s values.

“Any allegations have to be taken very seriously. Obviously we don’t know everything that’s gone on, but it does need to be resolved as it’s hanging over the sport,” Hamilton mentioned. “I think it’s a really important moment for the sport to make sure that we stand true to our values.”

Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford Motor Co., which is ready to turn into Red Bull’s engine provider in 2026, wrote to the group final week demanding a decision to the investigation, in a letter seen by The Associated Press.

Rival group principals Toto Wolff of Mercedes and Zak Brown of McLaren final week known as for the investigation to be clear.

The 50-yr-previous Horner has been Red Bull group principal because it entered F1 as a full constructor in 2005. He has guided the group to 6 constructors’ championships and 7 drivers’ championships throughout his time there.

Red Bull gained 4 drivers’ titles in a row with Sebastian Vettel from 2010 by 2013, and three titles with Verstappen since 2021.

Horner is married to Geri Halliwell, higher often called Ginger Spice of the feminine pop group The Spice Girls.

Horner’s profile outdoors F1 was raised by his outstanding position within the Netflix docuseries “Drive to Survive” and by his combative relationship with Wolff amid a bitter title combat between Verstappen and Hamilton in 2021.

Verstappen mentioned the investigation has not been a distraction to his bid to win a fourth successive title. The Dutch driver gained a file 19 races final season and is broadly thought of the clear favourite this yr, aided by a Red Bull automotive which has been considerably redesigned.

“I’m very focused on just the performance of the car myself and hopefully it (the investigation) will just be resolved very soon,” Verstappen mentioned Wednesday earlier than Red Bull issued its assertion. “It’s a whole team effort that everyone has to stick together and work toward more success and that’s why it’s important to get everything resolved very soon.”

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AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer in Charlotte, N.C., contributed to this report.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)