Red Bull has launched an investigation after a complaint was made against its CEO and team principal Christian Horner, saying it took the allegations “extremely seriously” and has started an investigation.
Horner oversaw Red Bull’s record-breaking 2023 season in which the team won twenty-one of twenty-two races as Max Verstappen secured his third world title.
Horner says he “completely denies” the allegations. The allegations made by a female employee according to The Times and De Telegraaf, accuses Horner of “inappropriate, controlling behaviour” came from a female member of staff. The complaint went to Red Bull Austria, the F1 team’s parent company.
This news was “a shock to staff”, the British newspaper reports. They were not aware of the investigation because the employee who made the complaint chose to take it outside of the F1 team, due to Horner’s status as the team principal.
Asked about the allegations by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, external, Horner said: “I completely deny these claims.”
Red Bull said in a statement, “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation This process, which is already under way, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister. The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
This news was “a shock to staff”, the British newspaper reports. They were not aware of the investigation because the employee who made the complaint chose to take it outside of the F1 team, due to Horner’s status as the team principal. Its alleged the incident took place at the Hahnenkamm ski race in Kitzbühel, an event attended by his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff and McLaren Zak Brown, according to the German publication F1-Insider.
Last week, at the same time as Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was breaking rumours of a damming story involving a senior figure also been circulating on X formerly Twitter had been circulating.
Horner has been Red Bull team principal since their first season in 2005, leading the Milton Keynes-based squad to seven drivers’ titles and six constructors’ triumphs during his nineteen years in charge. He has not been suspended by Red Bull.
