Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is calling for an end to the torturous affair involving inappropriate behavior. But the leaders of Formula 1 are pushing for more insight into what is happening.
Severely annoyed by the interrogation of the Formula 1 media, Christian Horner pleaded for compassion for his family. The Brit demanded again and again that there was enough of the questions, the accusations, the data leaks in the scandal surrounding the Red Bull team boss’s allegedly abusive behavior towards an employee.
“It’s a stressful time. When children are involved, families, parents, when your marriage is examined, then that’s not nice,” said Horner before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Even before the second race of the season on Saturday (6 p.m./Sky), the biggest topic of conversation in the paddock in Jeddah is not sport, but the affair surrounding the 50-year-old that has been simmering for weeks. “This is the Faustian downside when sport is staged like a soap opera,” commented the British “Guardian” on the scene.
Horner calls for an end
In the midst of Red Bull and triple world champion Max Verstappen’s series of titles, Horner also willingly opened up his private life alongside former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell to the cameras. Now he can’t close the door anymore.
And because Red Bull and Verstappen have been crushing the sporting competition with their dominance for a while now, the audience is all the more interested in the drama off the asphalt. “We have to draw a line in the sand. It’s time to concentrate on what we’re here for, namely Formula 1 racing,” warned Horner. But even after that, all the questions from the media centered around dealing with the scandal.
Horner and Red Bull left unconfirmed the fact that several media outlets claimed to have learned that the employee whose allegations got the matter rolling was released this week with full pay. It was “a confidential matter between the complainant and the company,” said Horner. The parent company had previously made similar statements.
Formula 1 leaders want more insight into what’s going on at Red Bull
Horner also elaborately evaded the question of how the affair could damage the efforts of the male-dominated Formula 1 to create a positive environment for women. It is a complicated matter and every company has to maintain confidentiality in such procedures, explained the Red Bull racing director.
A lack of transparency had already been criticized by other team bosses after anonymous emails with juicy details were sent to officials and journalists. The Formula 1 leadership and the world association FIA are also said to have requested the results of the Red Bull Group’s internal investigation, which acquitted Horner of the allegations. The fact that the name of the independent lawyer who had investigated the matter was not even mentioned fueled distrust among observers.
Horner assured that it was one of the most well-known British Crown attorneys. “He took his time, interviewed everyone involved, looked at all the facts and dismissed the complaint. We now have to move forward,” said Horner.
Horner resists calls to resign
Others see it differently. “He could solve it, he could resign. He’s slimming down, I haven’t heard an apology either,” said TV expert Ralf Schumacher on Sky.
Even more unpleasant for Horner were the attacks from Max Verstappen’s father Jos, who feared a breakup in the racing team and called for the team boss to leave. Horner said in a tight-lipped tone that there had been clarifying discussions after the opening victory in Bahrain. “It is in all of our interests that we focus on the future,” he added. Without unity and harmony, a series of successes like the one Red Bull is currently experiencing would not be possible, emphasized the former racing driver.
Power struggles the “unsightly side” of Formula 1
According to reports, Horner at Red Bull is primarily supported by the Thai majority owners around billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya. The businessman recently appeared demonstratively at the team boss’s side in Bahrain and is said to maintain a close relationship with the Brit.
The side of the heirs of the late Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz is said to be much more critical of Horner internally. The German Oliver Mintzlaff, one of the three Red Bull managing directors, has announced his visit to the Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia.
Power struggles are no stranger to the billion-dollar Formula 1 business. “Others tried to take advantage of what was happening. That’s the ugly side of our industry,” said Horner, without naming those he suspected of the intrigue. And so there is still a lot of room for rumors and speculation in the whole drama surrounding the industry leader and his team boss.