Ford boss urges quick resolution
Farley expressed his displeasure with Horner investigation
The CEO of Ford Motor Co. insisted on a resolution into the investigation of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner in a letter sent to the team, a copy of which was obtained yesterday by The Associated Press.
The letter dated Friday from Ford CEO Jim Farley expressed his displeasure with “the unresolved allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Red Bull Racing leadership.”
Farley noted it had been 11 days since Ford, which is set to become Red Bull’s engine supplier in 2026, first requested further information into the investigation Red Bull’s parent company announced on February 5 into allegations made against Horner by a team employee. Red Bull has given no public details on the accusations, which were initially characterised internally as an investigation into Horner’s “aggressive management style” but have now shifted to reports of sexual misconduct.
Horner has denied any wrongdoing and said he also wanted a quick resolution to the investigation.
“As we have indicated previously, without satisfactory response, Ford’s values are nonnegotiable,” Farley wrote in the letter. “It is imperative that our racing partners share and demonstrate a genuine commitment to those same values. My team and I are available at any time to discuss this matter. We remain insistent on, and hopeful, for a resolution we can all stand behind.”
Ford so far is the only one of Red Bull’s corporate partners to speak publicly on the Horner investigation. The company reportedly sent an initial letter to Red Bull — seemingly what Farley referenced in Friday’s communication — but the AP has not seen the first letter.
Ford yesterday declined to comment.
Formula 1 and governing body FIA both issued statements pressing Red Bull for a resolution. But neither Larry Ellison, co-founder of Red Bull title sponsor Oracle, or Ryan Mcinerney, CEO of Visa, have replied to requests for comment from the AP. Visa in January was announced as title sponsor for Red Bull’s junior team in Visa’s first new global sports partnership in 15 years.
Farley’s letter expresses clear frustration with the pace of the investigation. In the time since Red Bull’s Austria-based parent company revealed it was looking into allegations of misconduct, Horner has continued in his role as team leader of the threetime reigning world champions.
Horner was at the launch of the 2024 car two weeks ago, spent last week with the team testing in Bahrain, and has said he expected to be the team principal when the F1 season opens next weekend.
Farley wrote that although Ford trusts the investigation is fair, the company is “increasingly frustrated, however, by the lack of resolution or clear indication from you about when you anticipate a fair and just resolution of this matter.
“We are likewise frustrated by the lack of full transparency surrounding this matter with us, your corporate partners, and look forward to receiving a complete account of all findings.”
Farley called for “prompt and serious attention” to the matter.
The Horner investigation has consumed the F1 community as the start of the new season and Max Verstappen’s bid for a fourth consecutive title are just days away. There were reportedly nearly 100 pieces of evidence introduced during a deposition of Horner, who allegedly offered his accuser a six-figure settlement.
His fate, though, is complicated no matter what the investigation finds.
Red Bull was founded by Dietrich Mateschitz and Chaleo Yoovidhya, a Thai pharmacist. Mateschitz died last year and although his son, Mark, runs the company, the family holds only 49 per cent ownership of Red Bull.
The remaining 51 per cent is owned by Yoovidhya, and Horner’s future with Red Bull could come down to a standoff between the two families.
We are likewise frustrated by the
lack of full transparency surrounding this matter with us, your corporate partners, and look forward to
receiving a complete account
of all findings.
Ford CEO Jim Farley
If the German football league thought it had ended fans’ protests against outside investors, it was proven wrong yesterday.
Both Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt supporters displayed banners during their teams’ respective games in support of German soccer’s 50-plus-1 rule that limits how much influence an outside investor can wield over a club. The rule states that club members need to retain control of voting rights – at least 50 per cent and one vote.
“50-plus-1 is the foundation of our sport. Football lives through its fans!” the Dortmund supporters said on banners during their team’s 3-2 loss to visiting Hoffenheim.
The Frankfurt fans briefly
interrupted their side’s match against Wolfsburg by throwing small plastic balls on to the field behind one of the goals early in the second half. At least one small plastic pig was also thrown, landing beside one of the goal posts.
The fans also held a giant banner criticising Volkswagen-backed Wolfsburg with an expletive, saying the “investor club” should be excluded from the German soccer federation because it does not adhere to the 50-plus-1 rule.
The game was held up for around six minutes while the items were removed before play resumed with Wolfsburg leading 2-1. Omar Marmoush went on to score in stoppage time to salvage a 2-all draw for Frankfurt.
Sunday’s protests came despite the German league’s midweek decision to scrap its controversial plan to sell a share in clubs’ future media rights income to an outside investor for an upfront payment.
Frankfurt’s supporters were objecting to Wolfsburg’s status in contrast to their own, where fans have a majority say in how the club is run.
The multi-sport club VFL Wolfsburg was founded in 1945, only seven years after the city of Wolfsburg was itself founded for Volkswagen factory workers.
Wolfsburg is still backed by the German auto manufacturer, one of only two exceptions to the 50-plus1 rule.
Bayer Leverkusen are the other exception, as they were founded for Bayer factory workers. The pharmaceutical giant still owns the club. Both Wolfsburg and Leverkusen are granted exemptions from 50-plus-1 because they’ve had the same backers for more than 20 years.
Hoffenheim was another exception, but backer Dietmar Hopp transferred most of his voting rights back to the club last year to bring it in line with the rule.
The league’s latest plan to bring in an outside investor for a share of media rights income led to extensive protests across Germany’s top two divisions over the last two weekends.
—AP