NEWS. . . BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Christian Horner is “disappointed” and “very disappointed” in Red Bull after being suspended from the Formula 1 team.
Horner was cleared after an investigation into allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” directed at the team principal through a Red Bull employee.
The saga overshadowed the start of the 2024 season, with texts and photographs allegedly leaked from the investigation and fierce comments from Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, adding fuel to the fire.
An all-out civil war is brewing at Red Bull, with the long careers of Horner, husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, Verstappen and several of the team’s more level-headed players, plus Helmut Marko and Adrian Newey, at stake.
As for the complainant herself, the deadline to appeal the final result of the investigation ends this week, and she informs that she will do so.
However, last week, ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, it was revealed that she had been suspended with full pay through Red Bull, for “dishonesty”.
“She’s very disappointed in how it all went, especially because she did everything according to the book,” a friend of the whistleblower, whose identity will be revealed, told MailOnline.
“She has raised her considerations privately and has done everything right, but she is very disappointed in the company. She was suspended and charged with dishonesty when she had followed the procedure diligently and correctly.
“But through it all, she’s been suspended from the task she loves and from a game where she’s highly valued. The lack of help is noticeable and she is very disappointed with the remedy her employer receives.
“Look what happened. She complained that a supposedly transparent and independent investigation had been conducted, Horner clarified, and then suspended it.
“I want to ask questions about Red Bull’s investigation, transparency would bring confidence in what it’s like for him.
How the scandal unfolded. . .
Monday, Feb. 5 – Red Bull confirms investigation into Horner over allegations of “controlling behaviour”
Friday, Feb. 9: Horner questioned by independent counsel in an eight-hour hearing
Thursday, February 15: Horner attends the launch of the 2024 Red Bull and publicly addresses the allegations for the first time. He says he “totally denies” any wrongdoing.
Friday, February 16 – New allegations appear in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, suggesting that Horner sent messages of a “suggestive nature” to an employee.
Wednesday, February 21 to Friday, February 23 – Horner attends Formula 1 pre-season in Bahrain – says: “We hope there will be a solution as soon as possible”
Friday, February 23 – F1 series six: Drive to Survive premieres on Netflix – Horner and his wife Geri Halliwell appear in the docuseries
Wednesday, February 28 – Horner cleared of charges – Red Bull said: “The investigation is complete and has been dismissed. The complainant has the right to appeal.
Thursday, February 29: WhatsApp messages and photographs purportedly between Horner and the whistleblower were leaked to the media and F1 staff.
On Friday, March 1, Horner was summoned for talks with F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem; later, Horner had an “extravagant feud” with Jos Verstappen.
Saturday, March 2: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins season-opening Grand Prix in Bahrain; hours later, his father Jos warns that Red Bull “is at risk of being torn apart”. Horner leaves
Thursday, March 7 – Horner’s accuser suspended on full pay via Red Bull
Sunday, March 10 – After the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Red Bull owners are holding crisis talks, as Horner is reportedly sacked and Verstappen could leave for Mercedes.
“Who at Red Bull is in charge of identifying the facts?Who at Red Bull had access to all the confidential documents used?Who at Red Bull is making all those decisions and who at Red Bull is running to identify the source of those leaks?
“She just can’t get over the fact that she filed a complaint and was suspended; All you need is transparency in the process. “
Many have called for greater transparency in relation to the investigation, but Horner and Red Bull remain as secretive as possible as they try to put an end to the case.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has been among those who has insisted that the scenario be clear and recently doubled down on his earlier comments in an interview with Austrian outlet Osterreich.
He said: “From the outside, we find a lot of drama, but for a team like Red Bull, a stage like this is great.
“Not telling everything makes things more interesting, which leads to more questions, more stories, more speculation.
“But there’s a real story at the bottom, and this is the most important one: why did a woman who was uncomfortable move into HR?Why hasn’t anything been said about it yet?
“There’s also a data strategy that, from the outside, looks a bit confusing. In general, I think Austrians are professionals, whereas in England they try to keep everything small, but that’s unimaginable nowadays.
The saga will unfold when F1 heads to the Australian Grand Prix on March 24.
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