‘Pull the ripcord’: Horner verdict nears amid F1 icon’s ‘absurd’ Red Bull shock
The full report of the “inappropriate behaviour” probe into Christian Horner may be kept secret by Red Bull.
The F1 boss is expected to find out within the next 48 hours whether he will remain as boss of Red Bull Racing, as The Sun reports.
The 50-year-old has been the subject of an internal investigation following a complaint from a female colleague of alleged inappropriate behaviour.
Following the three-week probe, the decision is expected to be made before the season-opening GP, which kicks off on Thursday, F1 insiders believe.
It is understood that the investigation, which was carried out by a specialist barrister and included an interview with Horner on February 9, has now concluded.
However, it remains unknown if the full report will be published, given it was an internal investigation, rather than a legal hearing.
Horner has repeatedly denied the accusations and fully complied with the investigation, which is being handled by the energy drink’s HQ in Austria.
Horner and his Red Bull Racing team have provided no time scale for the announcement.
The message from within the team has been that it is “business as usual” within the Milton Keynes-based outfit while they wait for the investigation to be completed.
Horner oversaw F1 testing last week in Bahrain and had previously said he expected to be in control come the race, which will be held this Saturday, also in Bahrain.
Horner has been working as normal with the team. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesHorner joined Red Bull Racing in 2005 and is the sport’s longest-serving team principal.
He has won 13 titles with the team, winning six constructors’ and seven drivers’ titles.
Should he quit his role, Red Bull would be seeking a replacement to lead their defence of the two titles they won in 2023, with Max Verstappen winning his third world championship.
But F1 insiders say the probe has already caused “loss of image” to the team.
Ex-F1 team owner Eddie Jordan told F1-Insider.com: “I have experienced many wrong decisions.
Horner and Sergio Perez during testing earlier this month. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images“But the Red Bull situation is the most absurd thing I’ve ever seen. Of course, there is initially the presumption of innocence for Horner.
“But does anyone seriously believe that the employee made up her mind about the allegations?
“If Horner is innocent, is she guilty? Red Bull’s loss of image is already huge. Someone has to pull the ripcord now.”
Last week, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the investigation was “an issue for all of Formula One”, while McLaren called for a “swift “ and “transparent” conclusion to the investigation due to the negative headlines it was attracting.
