by Accused Christian Horner has appealed against the decision to clear the Red Bull team principal after allegations of controlled behavior – and has lodged a complaint with the sport’s governing body, the FIA.
Red Bull suspended the female employee after an investigation dismissed the complainant’s complaint earlier this month. But now she has lodged a formal appeal with the F1 team’s parent company in the latest twist in a saga that has fueled speculation over Max Verstappen’s future with the team, and the prospect of him also leaving the Red Bull team.
It is understood that the employee was suspended on full pay as a direct result of the Red Bull investigation, which concluded at the end of last month, and that he felt he had been ‘let down’ following the investigation.
The complainant was told that she had acted dishonestly and received a legal letter, which gave her five working days after receiving the letter to appeal the outcome of the investigation. The BBC also reports that she has lodged a complaint with the FIA’s ethics committee.
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HORNER CHRISTIAN – THE LATEST NEWS
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LATEST: Accused Christian Horner has lodged a complaint with the FIA
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The female colleague has also appealed against the outcome of the Red Bull investigation
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Horner was cleared of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ before the complainant was suspended
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The Red Bull boss is expected to attend the Australian Grand Prix this weekend
Christian Horner – latest: The female accused complains to the FIA after Red Bull’s appeal
09:50 , Ciaran Jackson
Accused Christian Horner has appealed against the decision to clear the Red Bull team principal following allegations of controlled behavior – and has reportedly complained to the sport’s governing body, the FIA.
Red Bull suspended the female employee after an investigation dismissed the complainant’s complaint earlier this month. But now she has lodged a formal appeal with the F1 team’s parent company in the latest twist in a saga that has fueled speculation over Max Verstappen’s future with the team, and the prospect of him also leaving the Red Bull team.
It is understood that the employee was suspended on full pay as a direct result of the Red Bull investigation, which concluded at the end of last month, and that he felt he had been ‘let down’ following the investigation.
The complainant was told that she had acted dishonestly and received a legal letter, which gave her five working days after receiving the letter to appeal the outcome of the investigation. The BBC also reports that she has lodged a complaint with the FIA’s ethics committee.
Jos Verstappen sympathizes with Horner’s accuser
12:10 , Ciaran Jackson
“I sympathize with the woman, with everything she went through, but we’ll see what happens,” Jos Verstappen told MailOnline, referring to Horner’s now-suspended accuser. Horner was cleared of wrongdoing by an external investigation.
“Red Bull seems to know what they’re doing with her, we’ll see. But I think it’s for her to come out and see what happens. I am not aware of what is happening with her.”
F1 presenter Laura Winter sends a challenging message to women in light of the Horner scandal
11:30 , Ciaran Jackson
F1 TV presenter Laura Winter produced a moving piece for a camera in Saudi Arabia on International Women’s Day – admitting that being a woman working in the sport has not been easy given recent events.
The female Red Bull employee was suspended yesterday, on the eve of International Women’s Day on Friday, for what team principal Christian Horner accused of “inappropriate behaviour”.
The complainant still has the right to appeal against the outcome of Red Bull’s internal investigation, which found that Horner was at fault.
But after a difficult month, with the role of women in Formula 1 brought back into the limelight, Winter sent a defiant message to those working in the sport and insisting female fans: “We are here to stay and the right we where are we.”
‘We’re here to stay’: F1 presenter sends message to women in light of Horner scandal
Red Bull responds to Horner’s retirement demands
10:57 , Ciaran Jackson
Following reports in the Austrian press that Horner could be fired before the Australian Grand Prix (March 24), Red Bull issued the following statement:
“As Christian said, he is grateful for the full support of the shareholders and that remains the case.”
Ferrari wants to ‘poach Red Bull engineers’ amid tension at Christian Horner’s team
10:32 , Ciaran Jackson
Ferrari are said to be eyeing Red Bull’s three chief engineers as the Scuderia look to capitalize on the current turmoil at the F1 world champions.
The saga in which Christian Horner and a female teammate accused him of “inappropriate behavior” – although the team principal was cleared after an internal investigation – has caused a lot of tension within the Red Bull camp.
Another tumultuous weekend in Saudi Arabia saw star driver Max Verstappen threaten to walk out if consultant Helmut Marko was forced out. Red Bull GmbH chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff shot down those rumours, and everyone involved was keen to go ahead despite the continued objections of Max’s father, Jos.
However Ferrari, who are well behind Red Bull along with the rest of the grid this season, are looking to capitalize on the situation by signing up key aerodynamicists and performance engineers for 2025, when Lewis Hamilton joined the Mercedes team.
Italian outlet Gazzetta Dello Sport says Ferrari is eyeing an approach from Red Bull’s head of aerodynamic development Alessandro Germani, head of performance Ben Waterhouse and on-track aerodynamics officer David Morgan.
Christian Horner admits Max Verstappen could leave Red Bull
10:13 , Ciaran Jackson
“It’s like anything in life, you can’t force someone to be somewhere just because of a piece of paper,” Horner said after Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
“If someone didn’t want to be on this team, we’re not going to force someone to be here.
“That applies whether it’s a machine operator or a designer or someone in one of the support functions that runs through the business.”
Accused Christian Horner feels ‘shut down’ by Red Bull as she ‘appeals’
09:59 , Ciaran Jackson
The woman who accused Christian Horner of “inappropriate behaviour” says she feels “disappointed” and “let down” by Red Bull, according to reports.
Red Bull F1 team principal Horner has been cleared of any wrongdoing following a three-week internal investigation by an external lawyer. A day later, sexually explicit WhatsApp texts involving the two parties were leaked to F1 personnel and the media.
Last Thursday, Red Bull Racing suspended the complainant, on full pay. A Red Bull spokesman said: “The company cannot comment on this internal matter”.
Full story below:
Horner accused feels ‘shut down’ by Red Bull as she ‘appeals’
Christian Horner – latest: FIA statement on Red Bull employee complaint
09:55 , Ciaran Jackson
“Inquiries and complaints are received and managed by the compliance officer, and where appropriate by the ethics committee.
“Both bodies operate independently, which ensures strict confidentiality throughout the process.
“As a result, and in general, we cannot confirm that any specific complaint has been received and we are unlikely to be able to comment further on complaints we may receive from any parties.”
‘I’d love to have him’: Toto Wolff reacts to Max Verstappen’s turmoil at Red Bull
09:53 , Ciaran Jackson
Toto Wolff has revealed for the first time that he would love to have Max Verstappen at Mercedes – as Red Bull boss Christian Horner has admitted that no one is bigger than the team.
Verstappen’s Red Bull future is under discussion among rivals at Formula One’s dominant franchise.
The Dutchman, who won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday to land his second win of the season – and ninth in a row – has opened the door to a dramatic exit from Red Bull if motorsport consultant Helmut is forced out Marko out.
It emerged this weekend that Marko could be suspended as a result of Red Bull’s investigation into Horner, although the 80-year-old Austrian said before Saturday’s race that he expected to continue.
However, the upheaval at Red Bull Mercedes – looking for a replacement for Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton in 2025 – has raised red flags.
‘I’d love to have him’: Toto Wolff reacts to Max Verstappen’s turmoil at Red Bull
