Motor racing-Horner’s role in Red Bull success unquestionable, says Verstappen (updated)

Liberty Media

01/03/2024 19:17

(Recasts post-qualifying with Verstappen comments)
    By Abhishek Takle
       SAKHIR, Bahrain, March 1 (Reuters) - 
    Formula One champion Max Verstappen offered his strongest
endorsement yet of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner since the
Briton became tangled up in allegations, of which he has been
cleared, about misconduct toward a female colleague.
  
        Speaking on Friday after taking pole position in
qualifying for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Verstappen
said Horner’s contribution to the team’s on-track success was
unquestionable.
  
        "Listen, when I look at how Christian operates within
the team, he has been an incredible team boss," said the Dutch
triple champion.
  
        "So absolutely, from the performance side of things, you
can't even question that."
  
        Horner was cleared on Wednesday after a lengthy
investigation carried out by an independent lawyer for the
championship winning team's Austrian parent company, Red Bull
GmbH.
  
        He has repeatedly denied the unspecified allegations
against him and Red Bull has said the investigation report will
remain confidential.
  
        But an anonymous email circulated widely on Thursday and
containing a Google drive link to purported evidence submitted
as part of the investigation triggered renewed speculation, in
the media and on social networks, about Horner’s future.
  
        An FIA spokesperson said the governing body currently
considered it an internal matter but was keeping a close eye on
the situation.
  
        Horner, 50, met with the president of the governing FIA
Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Formula One chief executive Stefano
Domenicali in the Sakhir paddock on Friday.
  
        The pair were among the roughly 150 recipients of the
email, which was also sent to commercial rights holders Liberty
Media, other team bosses and members of the media.
  
        Horner is the sport’s longest-serving team boss having
brought Red Bull into Formula One in 2005.
  
        Last year, he led the Milton Keynes-based squad to its
sixth constructors’ title with 21 wins from 22 races in the most
dominant campaign in the sport’s history. 
  
        Verstappen, winner of 19 races, clinched his third
successive crown.
  
        "I speak to Christian a lot, and also throughout the
weekend here, he's fully committed to the team, he's also here
for the performance, of course, probably a little bit
distracted," said the 26-year-old.
  
        "But, like I said before, we just focus on the
performance side of things, and that's how we all work
together."
  

 (Editing by Toby Davis and Christian Radnedge)
 ((alan.baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933;))