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SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) — Red Bull on Wednesday dismissed allegations against team principal Christian Horner, ending an investigation that overshadowed the start of the Formula One season.
Horner will be at the helm of the F1 champion team after Red Bull’s internal investigation cleared him of any alleged misconduct towards a team employee.
Details of the allegations have not been made public, but the investigation has been the main topic of discussion ahead of this weekend’s season opener in Bahrain. Red Bull’s announcement came shortly after the team’s drivers finished their usual pre-race race. media availability, and less than 24 hours before the first practice session.
“The independent investigation into the allegations against Mr Horner has been completed and Red Bull can verify that the complaint has been denied. The complainant has the right to appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation is fair, rigorous and impartial. “Red Bull’s parent company said in a statement.
“The investigation report shall be confidential and shall include the personal data of the parties and third parties who contributed to the investigation. We will not be commenting further out of respect for everyone involved. Red Bull will continue to strive to achieve the highest standards in the workplace. “
Red Bull won every race last season and its driver Max Verstappen is the three-time defending champion.
Horner had remained in his post during the investigation as part of what he called a “normal business” approach, and was in charge of the team for pre-season testing last week, although he admitted the investigation was distracting.
Speaking ahead of the announcement, Mercedes driver and seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton said the investigation into Horner is a test of the sport’s values.
“Any accusations will have to be taken very seriously. Obviously, we don’t know everything that happened, but we want to figure it out because it weighs on the game,” Hamilton said. “I think it’s a vital moment for the game to be resolved. “”Make sure you stay true to our values. “
Jim Farley, chief executive of Ford Motor Co. , which is expected to be Red Bull’s engine supplier in 2026, last week wrote to the team a not-so-easy solution to the investigation, in a letter seen by The Associated PressArray.
Rival team principals Mercedes Toto Wolff and McLaren’s Zak Brown last week for transparency in the investigation.
Horner, 50, has been Red Bull team principal since entering F1 as a full-fledged constructor in 2005. He guided the team to six constructors’ championships and seven drivers’ championships during his time there.
Red Bull won 4 consecutive drivers’ titles with Sebastian Vettel from 2010 to 2013, and 3 titles with Verstappen since 2021.
Horner has been married since 2015 to Geri Halliwell, known as Ginger Spice of the all-female pop organization The Spice Girls.
Horner’s profile outside of F1 has been boosted through his starring role in the Netflix documentary series “Drive to Survive” and his combative relationship with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff amid a bitter name fight between Verstappen and Hamilton in 2021.
Verstappen said the investigation had been a distraction in his bid to win a fourth consecutive title. The Dutch driver won a record 19 races last season and is widely regarded as the favourite this year, helped by a Red Bull car that has been specially redesigned. .
“I myself am very focused only on the functionality of the car and (the investigation) will be resolved very soon,” Verstappen said on Wednesday before Red Bull released its statement. “It’s a team effort where everyone has to work on combination and paints. “to have more good luck and that’s why it’s vital to resolve everything very quickly. “
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Jenna Fryer, editor of AP Auto Racing in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.
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AP Motor Racing: https://apnews. com/hub/auto-racing
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