Motor racing-FIA and F1 break silence on Horner ahead of testing

Liberty Media

19/02/2024 14:17

By Alan Baldwin
       LONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Formula One and its governing
body have commented for the first time on allegations against
Red Bull boss Christian Horner who is fighting to save his job
at the reigning world champions with testing and the start of
the season looming.
    Red Bull's parent company in Austria announced on Feb. 5 an
independent investigation into the 50-year-old Briton's conduct
after unspecified allegations against him. The process remains
ongoing. Horner has denied any wrongdoing.
    Formula One's commercial rights holder issued a short
statement on Sunday in which it hoped "that the matter will be
clarified at the earliest opportunity, after a fair and thorough
process."
    The Paris-based FIA followed on Monday with a statement
emphasising that it "remains committed to upholding the highest
standards of integrity, fairness and inclusivity within the
sport."
    Both said they would make no further comment until the
outcome was known.
    Neither the energy drink company nor the British-based team
have given details of the allegations, although media reports
have spoken of inappropriate and controlling behaviour towards a
female colleague.
    Horner said at the launch of his team's RB20 car in Milton
Keynes last Friday that he was confident and cooperating with
the process and denied "absolutely any allegation that's been
made against me."
    A Feb. 9 hearing in London with an independent barrister
lasted almost eight hours, according to Sky Sports.
    The Briton is due to attend testing in Bahrain this week and
is scheduled to appear in a regular FIA news conference on
Thursday with other team principals before the opening race at
Sakhir on March 2.
    Should Horner be forced out of Red Bull it would come as a
seismic shock for the sport.
    Horner and his team celebrated the most dominant season in
Formula One history last year, with Red Bull winning 21 of 22
races, and will start the new season with Dutch driver Max
Verstappen chasing a fourth successive title.
    Horner is also the longest serving team boss in Formula One
and was by far the youngest when he led Red Bull into the sport
in 2005.

 (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris)
 ((alan.baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933;))