Briton Christian Horner, historic boss of the Red Bull Formula 1 team targeted by an internal investigation, was heard by a lawyer on Friday, without any decision concerning his future in the team having been announced, reported several British media.
The hearing, led by a lawyer external to the team, was held in London, in an undisclosed location, again according to these media and would have lasted several hours. Contacted by AFP on Saturday, Red Bull did not wish to comment.
“It would not be appropriate for us to comment until the investigation is complete,” a team spokesperson said, without providing any information at this stage regarding the allegations against Christian Horner.
According to the British press, the 50-year-old boss is accused internally of “inappropriate behavior” towards an employee, “allegations” which the person concerned “completely rejects”, cited by the Dutch daily De Telegraaf .
For the moment, nothing indicates that a decision will be made before the presentation of the 2024 single-seater that its reigning Dutch champion Max Verstappen and his Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez will drive, scheduled for Thursday at the Red Bull premises in Milton Keynes.
Several media outlets suggest that the investigation could take “weeks” as the season begins on March 2 in Bahrain, after three days of testing in the Gulf state (February 21-23).
Red Bull announced Monday that it had “launched an independent investigation” after “taking note of certain recent allegations” concerning its director, who is the husband of ex-Spice Girls Geri Halliwell.
“This procedure, which is already underway, is being carried out by an external specialist lawyer (at Red Bull, Editor’s note). The company takes these matters very seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as possible. It would not be appropriate to make any further comments at this stage,” a team spokesperson said.
Horner has been director of Red Bull since he appeared in the F1 paddocks in 2005. Under his era, Red Bull has won seven World Drivers’ Championship titles, four for German Sebastian Vettel (from 2010 to 2013) and three for the Dutchman Max Verstappen (from 2021 to 2023), as well as six world constructors’ crowns (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022 and 2023). Last year, the Austrian firm crushed the competition by winning 21 of the 22 Grands Prix.
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