Red Bull F1 employee loses appeal in misconduct case against Christian Horner
In a significant development within the Formula 1 community, the Red Bull F1 employee who accused team principal Christian Horner of controlling and inappropriate behavior has had her appeal denied, according to an official statement from Red Bull GmbH.
The parent company confirmed on Thursday that a second independent probe reviewed the findings of the initial complaint, which had been dismissed in late February, just before the season's commencement. The allegations initially posed a severe threat to Horner’s position as team principal, a role he has held since Red Bull joined the F1 grid in 2005.
In a statement, Red Bull GmbH articulated:
"Earlier this year a complaint raised against Christian Horner was investigated. That complaint was dealt with through the company's grievance procedure by the appointment of an independent KC [king's counsel,] who dismissed the grievance.
"The complainant exercised the right to appeal, and the appeal was carried out by another independent KC. All stages of the appeal process have now been concluded, with the final outcome that the appeal is not upheld. The KC's conclusions have been accepted and adopted by Red Bull. The internal process has concluded.
"The company respects the privacy of all its employees and will not be making further public statements at this time.
"Red Bull is committed to continuing to meet the highest workplace standards."
According to reports, the unidentified woman remains suspended by the team, a status that has persisted since early March. The initial complaint and ensuing investigation commanded significant attention, overshadowing the buildup to the current season's opening race in Bahrain.
During the preseason, files purportedly linked to the investigation were leaked via email to nearly 200 individuals within the F1 paddock. This distribution included members of Liberty Media, F1, the FIA, the other nine team principals, and multiple media outlets.
Horner, 50, has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining his role throughout the investigation and appeal process.
Despite the complex and public nature of the case, Red Bull continues to affirm its dedication to maintaining high standards in workplace conduct, emphasizing the closure of this internal matter.
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