by Toto Wolff has urged the sport’s twin powerhouses, governing body the FIA and Formula One, to “set the compass right” following Red Bull’s internal investigation into team principal Christian Horner.
And Jos Verstappen, father of Red Bull driver Max, asked Horner to step aside for the sake of the team. “There is tension here and he is still in the position,” Verstappen Snr told the Mail on Sunday.
“The team is in danger of being torn apart. He can’t go the way he is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when the person is the cause of the problems.”
But after a commanding second at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, where he was able to count on the support of his wife Geri and the Thai majority owner of Red Bull, Chalerm Yoovidhya, a defiant Horner said he was “absolutely ” confident now. that he would survive the controversy, and insisted that it was time to “move on”.
Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, has been one of the most vocal critics of Red Bull’s Austrian parent company’s handling of the investigation into Horner following allegations from a female employee of “controlling” behaviour. At last week’s pre-season test the Austrian called for more “transparency” in how Red Bull handled the business.
Horner was finally cleared on Wednesday, and the complainant’s complaint was dismissed after a lengthy investigation by specialist external counsel appointed by Red Bull GmBH.
But the issue flared up again the following day after a massive data breach, with 79 screenshots, mainly a collection of WhatsApp pictures and images purporting to be between Horner and the complainant, sent to key figures in Formula One via email without name
Jos Verstappen, the father of triple Formula One world champion Max, has claimed that Red Bull will “explode” if Christian Horner stays in the job.
He spoke out after his son’s victory at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
“There’s tension here and he’s still in the position,” Verstappen Snr told Mail Sport.
”The team is in danger of being torn apart. He can’t go the way he is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when the person is the cause of the problems.”
Wolff is in charge of ‘transparency’
In the wake of that breach, Wolff has renewed calls for the sport’s regulators to act.
“From where we sit, it’s really hard to say any more,” Wolff said as his drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and seventh respectively in Sakhir. “This is now a decision for Red Bull and the governing body (FIA).
“It is not in the hands of the competitors to take any action. If we go beyond what we have already said, it is like a battle between rivals in Formula One.
“I don’t want to downplay the whole situation by looking like the Mercedes or the McLaren guy talking about the Red Bull boys.
“I think we’ll see where it goes in the next few days. I would really hope that the governing body, the sanctioning body, the commercial right holder will set the compass right.”
Wolff added that he “unfortunately” missed the moment when Horner and his wife Geri walked into the paddock hand in hand in a show of solidarity ahead of Saturday’s race.
Horner refuses to comment on leaked messages
But Horner, sitting down with the media for the first time since the messages were released, said he was extremely grateful for their support. Geri watched the race in the Red Bull garage, standing next to the father of the winning driver, Jos Verstappen, a man whose relationship is currently under great strain.
“I’m not going to comment on the reasons someone might have for doing this,” Horner, 50, replied when asked if he felt someone was trying to bring him down to personal. “I focus on this team, my family, my wife and racing. I have the support of an incredible family, an incredible wife and an incredible team and everyone within that team. And my focus is racing, winning races and doing as well as I can.
Horner added that he was “100 per cent” confident he would still be at Red Bull at the end of the season, no matter what was thrown at him.
“Indeed, indeed,” he said. “One hundred percent. An independent KC had completed a lengthy internal process and dismissed the complaint raised. End of. Carry on.”
“We’re here to focus on the track and it’s been an incredible start to the season overall. It’s the perfect start to our 20th season. It’s been a long winter and all the men and women at MK have done an incredible job designing and producing a great car to start the season. One out of 24.
“Obviously the last few days have not been pleasant with some of the unwanted attention but there is a lot of focus on the cars and what is happening on the track and today’s result shows where the focus is and we move forward. .
“I cannot comment on what people are choosing to write. I focus on the team, my family and the people around me. I have their full support, their full support and for me it is an ability to look ahead and move forward.
We’re all here to race. I’m sorry it wasn’t a more entertaining race for you today but that’s the result of the team doing their job and producing an incredible car.”
Asked about the celebrations at Parc Ferme afterwards, Horner added: “You could see what the whole team was about. Better to do your talking on the road.”
