The investigation into Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner is expected to conclude before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix this week, according to reports.
Horner strongly denies allegations of “inappropriate conduct” from a female colleague, with his future as the sport’s longest-serving team boss hanging in the balance as an outside lawyer analyzes all the evidence.
The 50-year-old Horner emphasized on Thursday during pre-season testing in Bahrain that he wants the outcome of the investigation “as quickly as possible”, with the first race of the 2024 Formula 1 season just a week away. The lawyer in charge of the investigation will reportedly submit his findings to the board of Red Bull GmbH – the team’s parent company – in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s future engine partner Ford has criticized the world champion for a “lack of transparency” as we await the outcome of the Horner investigation.
Follow the latest news from F1 below
CHRISTIAN HORNER – LATEST F1 NEWS
Christian Horner – latest: Ford slams Red Bull for ‘lack of transparency’ in Christian Horner investigation
10:07 , Kieran Jackson
Red Bull is coming under increasing pressure to resolve their investigation into F1 boss Christian Horner, with Ford criticizing their future engine partner for a ‘lack of transparency’.
Red Bull team boss Horner, 50, strongly denies allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” from a female colleague, which were first made public on February 5. He is being investigated by Red Bull Racing’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH.
Horner has repeated these rebukes during public appearances at Red Bull’s car launch and pre-season testing in the three weeks since, although no formal development on the investigation has been announced. An outcome is expected in the coming days.
And Ford Motor Co., which will partner with Red Bull to form Red Bull-Ford Powertrains in 2026, is unhappy with the nature of the investigation, as well as Red Bull’s lack of response to a request for further information on 14 February.
Full piece below:
Ford criticizes Red Bull for ‘lack of transparency’ in the Christian Horner investigation
Christian Horner – latest: Christian Horner investigation update with ‘expected resolution date’ revealed
09:16 , Kieran Jackson
The investigation into Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner is expected to be resolved before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix next week, according to reports.
Horner strongly denies allegations of “inappropriate conduct” from a female colleague, with his future as the sport’s longest-serving team boss hanging in the balance as an outside lawyer analyzes all the evidence.
The 50-year-old Horner emphasized on Thursday during pre-season testing in Bahrain that he wants the outcome of the investigation “as quickly as possible”, with the first race of the 2024 Formula 1 season just a week away.
When asked why he has not stepped aside as team principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing while the investigation is ongoing, Horner replied: “As you well know, there is a process going on that I am part of, and as I am part of I am afraid that I cannot comment on it.”
Now the lawyer in charge of the investigation will reportedly submit his findings to the board of Red Bull GmbH – the team’s parent company – in the coming days.
Christian Horner research update with ‘expected resolution date’ revealed
Christian Horner – latest: Helmut Marko defends the timing of the investigation
11:40 am , Kieran Jackson
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has defended the timing of the company’s investigation into F1 team boss and CEO Christian Horner into “inappropriate behaviour”.
Horner, the longest-serving team boss on the F1 grid, has been accused of “inappropriate, controlling behaviour” by a female colleague, with the team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, opening an investigation into the 50-year-old’s behaviour.
Horner strongly denied the claims when they were first published on February 5 and repeated the rebukes at the team’s F1 car launch in Milton Keynes last week.
Below is the full story:
Helmut Marko defends Red Bull in Christian Horner’s investigation
Christian Horner – latest: The Red Bull F1 Drive to Survive star married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell
10:56 , Kieran Jackson
Christian Horner’s influence on Formula 1 – from 31-year-old top team boss in 2005 to the indispensable mainstay of the paddock almost twenty years later – is undeniable. The Red Bull boss was given a monumental mission when he took charge of the energy drinks giant’s remarkable foray to the top of world motorsport in the mid-2000s. The castle he has since built is stratospherically impressive.
An example of this was last year’s near-perfect season, in which 21 of the 22 races were won. Perhaps it was all even beyond his own lofty ambitions.
But it could all come crashing down. As announced last Monday, Horner is now under investigation by Red Bull’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, after a complaint of “inappropriate behavior” was made by a female colleague. Horner strongly denies the allegations.
Below is Kieran Jackson’s full piece:
Christian Horner: The Drive to Survive star married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell
Christian Horner – latest: Five things we learned from F1 2024 pre-season testing in Bahrain
09:55 , Kieran Jackson
It was three days of non-stop testing action this week as the 2024 F1 season kicked off with hundreds of laps for each driver around the Bahrain International Circuit.
Red Bull continued to set the pace from the start with their bold approach to this year’s RB20, with reigning world champion Max Verstappen fastest on day one.
As for the rest of the peloton, there appears to be little difference between the other top contenders: Carlos Sainz was fastest for Ferrari on day two, followed by Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Charles Leclerc was fastest on the third and final day, with peaks in the late final session from Mercedes’ George Russell and Stake’s Zhou Guanyu putting them into the top three.
Here’s what we learned from the pre-season test in Bahrain:
Five things we learned from the F1 2024 pre-season testing in Bahrain
Christian Horner – latest: How did the Red Bull boss end up in F1?
09:29 , Kieran Jackson
Horner was a promising karter in his teens and raced for Arden in Formula 3000 for two years in the late 1990s, then the final stages for a potential F1 seat. Yet a moment during a pre-season test, when he couldn’t match Juan Pablo Montoya’s effort in a fast corner, told him everything he needed to know.
Montoya would go on to race in F1, Horner would not. He abruptly retired from racing at the age of 25, choosing to move to the management side of the Arden team.
It was there that he built his early reputation by winning junior titles. But despite his relative immaturity in a motorsport management ecosystem then dominated by the sport’s elder statesmen – Bernie Ecclestone, Ron Dennis, Ross Brawn etc – his sights were still firmly set on Formula 1.
Although talks with Eddie Jordan over a takeover failed, Horner became the youngest team boss on the grid at the age of 31 when he was entrusted with overseeing Red Bull’s entry into the sport by then company co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz , decided to venture into motorsport by purchasing Jaguar.
Christian Horner – latest: Toto Wolff calls for transparency in Red Bull investigation
09:22 , Kieran Jackson
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has called for a transparent investigation from Red Bull into Christian Horner – saying the controversy is “a problem for the whole of Formula 1”.
Horner is being investigated by the racing team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, following a claim of “inappropriate conduct” by a female colleague.
The 50-year-old emphatically denies the accusation and remains in his role as Red Bull team boss. He is in Bahrain this week for the three-day test ahead of the opening race, also in the Gulf Kingdom, on March 2.
And Horner has stated that his intention is to be in his post at the start of the new campaign.
“It’s clear,” Wolff said when asked to discuss the allegations during the lunch break on the first day of testing. “Formula 1 and its teams stand for inclusivity, equality, fairness and diversity, and that’s not just about talking about it, but living it day in, day out. These are just the standards we set for ourselves.”
Full piece below:
Toto Wolff calls for transparency in Red Bull’s Christian Horner investigation
Christian Horner – latest: Horner on when the investigation can be completed
09:18 , Kieran Jackson
“I’m terribly sorry, but I really can’t comment on the process or timescale.
“Everyone wants a conclusion as quickly as possible. But I’m really not at liberty to comment on the process.
