The appeal against the investigation that cleared Red Bull team principal Christian Horner of allegations has been dismissed. The complaint, initially lodged in December, involved accusations of coercive, abusive behavior, and sexual harassment. Horner, who has consistently denied these allegations, was cleared by Red Bull after an internal investigation by an independent lawyer in February.
A second independent review has now confirmed that the appeal against the initial decision was not upheld. Red Bull has stated that they “accepted and adopted” the conclusions of the recent investigation, but they are respecting the privacy of all involved and will not comment further on the matter.
Since March, the complainant has been suspended by Red Bull, with the company citing dishonesty as the reason. The company has not addressed her current employment status or provided additional details due to confidentiality concerns.
Following the dismissal of the complaint, a cache of messages allegedly involving Horner was leaked to around 150 senior F1 personnel and media. Horner has labeled these as “anonymous, speculative messages” and has refrained from commenting on their contents.
In other news, Red Bullβs design chief Adrian Newey is set to leave the team in early 2025, reportedly in response to the ongoing controversy. The F1 season resumes on August 23 at the Dutch Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen leading the drivers’ championship as he aims for a fourth consecutive title. ποΈπ¨
