Motor racing-Horner still in the spotlight after anonymous email

Liberty Media

01/03/2024 11:19

By Abhishek Takle
       SAKHIR, Bahrain, March 1 (Reuters) - Red Bull Formula
One boss Christian Horner was back at Bahrain's Sakhir circuit
on Friday, a day after a widely-circulated anonymous email put
fresh focus on recent allegations of misconduct toward a female
colleague.
    Horner, who denied the accusations, 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.
    Red Bull has said the investigation report will remain
confidential.
    Horner told Sky Sports on Thursday he was focusing on
Saturday's season-opening race at Sakhir but his hopes of
swiftly moving on were rocked by the email sent around the
paddock.
    "Following Red Bull’s recent investigation and statements
you will be interested to see the materials attached," the
email, sent from an anonymous address and headed 'Christian
Horner investigation evidence', said over a Google drive link.
    Some 150 recipients included the president of the governing
FIA Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Formula One chief executive Stefano
Domenicali, commercial rights holders Liberty Media, team bosses
and members of the media.
    The email triggered renewed speculation, in the media and on
social networks, about Horner’s future at the sport's dominant
team.
    An FIA spokesperson said on Friday that the governing body
currently considered it an internal matter but was keeping a
close eye on the situation.
    In a statement on Thursday night, Horner stood by his denial
of the allegations.
    "I won’t comment on anonymous speculation," said the
50-year-old, who is married to former Spice Girls singer Geri
Halliwell.
    "But to reiterate I have always denied the allegations. I
respected the integrity of the independent investigation and
fully co-operated with it every step of the way. 
    "It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an
independent specialist barrister and it has concluded dismissing
the complaint made. I remain fully focussed on the start of the
season."
    Mercedes and McLaren team bosses Toto Wolff and Zak Brown
had earlier called on Formula One’s governing body to push Red
Bull for greater transparency regarding the investigation.
    Horner is the sport’s longest-serving team boss having
brought Red Bull, whose current drivers are Dutch triple world
champion Max Verstappen and Mexican Sergio Perez, 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.
    Drivers have a final practice session on Friday before 
qualifying for Saturday’s race.

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