With just three weeks to go for pre-season testing, the F1 community is up in flames with back-to-back stunning revelations. The fans were still wrapping their heads around Lewis Hamilton’s shocking switch to Ferrari when Red Bull dropped a bombshell. The racing outfit launched an investigation against its longest-tenured team principal, Christian Horner.
The investigation against Horner was a ripple effect of an alleged complaint lodged by a female Red Bull employee. As far as the specifics of the complaint are concerned, contrasting reports have left the F1 community confused. As the investigation intensifies, Horner’s future at the team he built from scratch hangs in the balance.
Christian Horner To Be Questioned Over ‘Inappropriate Behavior’ Allegations On Friday!
Red Bull Racing faced a jolt when the parent drink company opened up an external investigation against team principal Christian Horner over alleged cross-border behavior with a female employee. As per reports doing rounds on social media, a female employee lodged an official complaint with incriminating evidence. Owing to the seriousness of the issue, the parent company hired external investigators to conduct an unbiased inquiry. However, conflicting reports over the exact nature of the allegations have baffled the F1 community. Some reports suggest that Horner allegedly sent inappropriate images to a female employee. However, a report from AP claimed that the issue is regarding Horner’s aggressive management style. Till the time of this writing, the exact details of the charges are unknown.
Having said that, the investigation is set to intensify as Red Bull intends to close the matter before the car launch event on February 15. As per AMuS, Christian Horner and all the parties involved in this said investigation have been summoned on Friday at company headquarters for a hearing. It is largely believed that if found guilty, Horner could lose his position as the team principal within Red Bull Racing. Johnathan Wheatley, the team’s current manager, is cited as the most likely replacement for the high-stakes job. Additionally, Telegraaf stated that more and more people within the organization prefer Horner to step down voluntarily. Notably, Horner is the longest-serving team principal in the history of F1, having taken over the reigns since 2005. He led the drink-based outfit to six constructors championships and also oversaw the team’s most dominant season in 2023.
Christian Horner’s Fate Lies Within Red Bull Owner’s Hands
A large-scale shakeup could be on the cards in F1 as Red Bull team principal Christian Horner remains under investigation for alleged cross-border behavior with a female employee. Amid an ongoing investigation, De Telegraaf claims Horner’s fate rests with the drink company’s 51% Thai stake owner Chalerm Yoovidhya.
Chalerm Yoovidhya’s support resulted in Christian Horner’s prolonged tenure with Red Bull. However, the new accusations have changed things within the ownership group. De Telegraaf added that prospects of Horner keeping his job in the aftermath of these sensitive allegations are questionable. A proper clarity on the severity of the situation is only expected after the Friday hearing on the matter.
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