LONDON:
The female Red Bull employee at the center of allegations against Christian Horner has lodged a formal complaint with Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, the BBC reported on Saturday.
Allegations of misconduct against the Red Bull team principal have overshadowed the opening weeks of the 2024 F1 season.
Horner was cleared by an internal investigation carried out by Red Bull’s parent company last month.
However, the saga did not end there as an anonymous email was sent to Formula 1 staff and media the following day containing alleged messages from Horner to a female member of the team.
Red Bull then suspended the employee at the center of the complaints.
However, he has now appealed the suspension with Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of the Formula 1 team.
Horner has led Red Bull to six constructors’ championship wins and seven drivers’ title triumphs since 2005, including the last three won by Max Verstappen.
But the star’s father, Jos Verstappen, claimed earlier this month that Red Bull faced “dissolution” if Horner stayed put.
In a statement to AFP, the FIA said: “Inquiries and complaints are received and managed by the compliance officer and the ethics committee where appropriate.
“Both agencies operate independently, ensuring strict confidentiality throughout the process. Consequently, and generally, we are unable to confirm receipt of any specific complaint.”
Horner, 50, has always denied the allegations against him.
He was accompanied by his wife — former Spice Girls pop star Geri Halliwell — at the first two Grand Prix races this season.
“There was a complaint raised, it was dealt with in the most professional way,” Horner said ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
“An independent KC (King’s Counsel), who is one of the most trusted KCs in the country, and took time to fully investigate all the facts.
“He interviewed everyone involved as well as others of interest. He looked at everything and came to a conclusion where he dismissed the complaint.
“As far as I’m concerned, and as far as Red Bull is concerned, we’ve moved on and we’re looking to the future. The time now is to draw a line under that.”
On the track, the season started much more smoothly for the defending world champions.
Verstappen finished ahead of teammate Sergio Perez for one-two wins at the opening races of the year in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
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