Red Bull Racing staff boss Christian Horner has come beneath fireplace after he was first investigated for “inappropriate and controlling behavior,” then after that investigation was dismissed, just for an nameless individual to launch what’s alleged to be a Google Drive containing pictures and screenshots of Horner’s aforementioned inappropriate conduct. Now, we’ve bought an replace: The lady who accused the Formula 1 staff principal of that habits has been suspended by Red Bull, the BBC studies.
Yes, you learn that accurately. Take a second to course of that one. Red Bull Racing suspended somebody concerned on this state of affairs, and it was not the accused.
Let’s roll it again a bit to supply some context. In early February, allegations of inappropriate conduct in opposition to 50-year-old Horner resulted in Red Bull pursuing an investigation. That investigation was performed by a 3rd get together, outdoors of the Red Bull group itself. Horner and his accuser had been each interviewed, however the investigation dragged on so lengthy that Ford, the American firm set to develop into Red Bull’s energy unit associate in 2026, claimed that it was “increasingly frustrated” by the corporate’s silence. During the course of the investigation, Horner was allowed to attend the staff’s automotive launch, then pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Then, on February 28, simply earlier than the official begin of the Formula 1 season, Red Bull “dismissed” the investigation. It’s price noting right here that “dismissed” doesn’t imply “cleared” or “innocent,” as many distinguished publications reported. A dismissal merely signifies that the investigation was concluded with out anybody issuing any judgement. This may imply that the events concerned reached some type of mutual settlement, or that investigators felt they didn’t have acceptable context to decide. If Horner had been deemed harmless, Red Bull would have been very clear about that — belief me.
One day later, because the F1 circus convened in Bahrain for the primary official apply session of the season, an nameless supply despatched a Google Drive to all FIA accredited, hard-card holding journalists, in addition to to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The drive contained over 70 pictures that allegedly confirmed textual content message and picture exchanges between Horner and his accuser; nonetheless, nobody has been in a position to set up the veracity of these pictures. Horner responded by flying his spouse, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, out to Bahrain to placed on a really public present of her help. Jos Verstappen, father of motorsport prodigy Max Verstappen, demanded that Horner be fired, whereas FIA President Sulayem expressed that his major concern rested in the truth that the allegations made F1 look unhealthy.
And that brings us to at this time, March 7; as apply for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will get underway, it has develop into clear that the girl who accused Horner of inappropriate conduct has been suspended from Red Bull. A Red Bull spokesperson advised the BBC that “the company cannot comment on this internal matter.” Autosport studies that the girl concerned remained employed as lately as this week.
Autosport additionally made some extent of commenting on Horner’s “emotional turmoil,” which has someway develop into one of many major issues of this example — the opposite being the undue damaging press F1 is receiving for the entire debacle. Just in case you had been questioning about whether or not or not motorsport believes ladies ought to be revered.
Source: jalopnik.com