Christian Horner, the historic boss of the Red Bull Formula One team against whom an internal investigation was launched for “inappropriate behavior”, has been acquitted, the Austrian company said on Wednesday ahead of the first Grand Prix of the season in Bahrain this weekend with.
“The complaint was dismissed,” Red Bull’s parent company said in a statement, “in the belief that the investigation was fair, rigorous and impartial.”
Horner, 50, has been in turmoil since an internal investigation was announced against him in early February.
The Brit, married to ex-Spice Girls Geri Halliwell, was internally suspected of “inappropriate behavior” – according to the press towards an employee – “allegations” which he has always denied.
Since the parent company opened the proceedings in Austria, few details have been leaked, except that the person concerned was heard by a lawyer outside the company.
In his first speech in mid-February, during the presentation of the team's new single-seater, Horner, who has never faded into the background, assured that he would “comply with the investigation” and “cooperate fully”.
The Englishman has been director of Red Bull since the team's debut in Formula 1 in 2005. Under his era, the team won seven drivers' world championships, four for German Sebastian Vettel (from 2010 to 2013) and three for Dutchman Max Verstappen (from 2021 to 2023) as well as six constructors' world championship titles (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022 and 2023).
The 2024 season begins this weekend in Bahrain. The Austrian team, which defeated the competition last year by winning 21 of the season's 22 Grands Prix, is already favorite for the constructors' and drivers' titles with its star driver Max Verstappen. Christian Horner, historic boss of the Formula 1 team Red Bull hit by an internal investigation into “inappropriate behavior”, has been cleared, the Austrian company said on Wednesday ahead of the first Grand Prix of the season in Bahrain this weekend.
“The complaint was dismissed,” Red Bull’s parent company said in a statement, “in the belief that the investigation was fair, rigorous and impartial.”