Red Bull boss Christian Horner faced a hearing on Friday following an accusation of inappropriate behaviour, just days before the launch of the Formula One team’s 2024 car.
Horner strongly denies the claim from a female employee of inappropriate workplace behaviour.
The hearing, which lasted around eight hours, didn’t come to a resolution according to Sky Sports Formula One reporter Craig Slater.
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“It’s been a long day for Christian Horner,” Slater said.
“Christian Horner’s first interview with the investigators into this claim of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace is finished.
“Red Bull hired an independent barrister to investigate this and he has had his first interview with Horner and it has lasted the better part of eight hours.
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“No resolution to this matter which I wasn’t expecting today. My understanding is that this will be quite a long process still.”
It’s a situation that is far from ideal for Horner and Red Bull so close to the beginning of the 2024 season.
Slater believes that there’s every chance this hearing will overlap with the new season.
“Christian Horner continues to maintain his innocence in all of this and wants to clear his name,” Slater said.
“This will work to the timescale the investigators set, not to a Formula One timescale so there’s every likelihood this process is still ongoing even as Red Bull are launching their car next Thursday and could still be ongoing for pre-season testing in Bahrain and when the season starts on March 2.
“It’s awkward for the team but paramount in all of this is that there is fairness for all parties involved.”
Horner has held the top job at the Red Bull F1 team for 19 years.
During that time he has overseen seven drivers’ world championships and six constructors’ titles.
The team dominated last season, winning 21 of the 22 races in 2023 as Verstappen defended his drivers’ crown.
Red Bull are set to unveil their new car on February 15 ahead of pre-season testing and the opening race in Bahrain next month.
— with AFP
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