The reigning world champion racing team, Red Bull, continues to have Christian Horner as their team leader. The 50-year-old British national has successfully countered allegations of inappropriate conduct towards a member of staff, leading to the parent company, Red Bull, issuing an official statement on Wednesday clearing him of such charges. This issue has been a source of controversy in the Formula 1 racing world for the past month. Despite the clearing of allegations, the employee who raised these allegations still reserves the right to challenge the decision.
The Red Bull company made public the accusations against Horner on February 5th, stating that an independent external legal professional would be appointed to carry out an objective investigation into the matter. Media outlets reported that Horner was questioned on the matter for several hours just four days following the announcement. The parent company, now under the management of Oliver Mintzlaff, the former CEO of RB Leipzig, after the death of company founder Dietrich Mateschitz in October 2022, did not provide specific details about the allegations.
The Formula 1 governing body had recently called for a swift resolution to the controversy. Horner, who has been married to the former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell since 2015, has vehemently denied the charges against him. “There have been some allegations made against me, which I completely deny. I am fully cooperating with the investigation and will continue to do so until it reaches its conclusion,” Horner stated at the unveiling of the new RB20 in the middle of February.
Horner has been at the helm of Red Bull Racing since its inception in the 2005 season. Under his guidance, the team, which was initially not taken seriously in the racing world, has gone on to win seven drivers’ and constructors’ world championships. This makes him the longest-serving team leader in the highest echelon of motorsport.
