‘I built this team’: Horner confident he will stay at Red Bull despite inquiry
A bullish Christian Horner has insisted that he believes he will remain as team principal of Red Bull Racing, despite the ongoing investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him. Horner reiterated his stance that he has done nothing wrong and said he remained fully committed to leading the team in the future.
At the launch of their 2024 car at Red Bull Racing’s headquarters in Milton Keynes on Thursday, Horner spoke publicly for the first time since the investigation was launched on 5 February, prompted by a female employee’s complaint of his “controlling” behaviour.
The 50-year-old denied the allegations at the time but his future as team principal and chief executive of Red Bull Racing has hung in the balance while the independent investigation is carried out. However, when asked at the car launch if he thought he would be at the season opener in Bahrain on 2 March, Horner issued an instant and emphatic “yes”.
Horner, who joined Red Bull in 2005, the year the team was formed, was unable to address specifics about the allegations or the investigation while it continues, but he was unequivocal that he was still dedicated to his career with Red Bull and expected it to continue.
“I am absolutely committed to this team, I have been here since the beginning, I have built this team,” he said. “There have been highs and lows along the way, 113 race wins, we have won seven drivers’ world championships, six constructors’ world championships in 19 seasons. That’s in the history books now but it’s what lies ahead that’s important. My focus is on the future.”
That ambition nonetheless lies in the hands of the inquiry. The team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, launched an investigation led by an external barrister after the complaint was made by a female member of staff, noting in a statement: “The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible.”
The complainant has not been identified nor made any public comment.
Horner was interviewed last Friday for what is believed to have been eight hours by the English barrister conducting the investigation at an undisclosed location in London. The inquiry has already collated the accounts and evidence from the employee in question. However, there is still no timeline on when it will reach a conclusion, with the latest indications being it could continue to the first race of the season and potentially beyond.
Horner, who has not been suspended, said he had been at work in his office in Milton Keynes in what he described as business as usual and that he enjoyed the backing of the team.
“The support from within the business, our partners within the industry, has been overwhelming,” he said. “At moments of uncertainty it brings teams together and I have never seen a team more together or more supportive than it is.”
His drivers, the world champion, Max Verstappen, and Sergio Pérez, both of whom declined to comment on the investigation, insisted the morale at Red Bull had been unaffected by the events.
The investigation is being conducted behind closed doors and, given it was instigated privately by Red Bull GmbH, it is not obliged to make its findings or operation public. Horner, however, said he believed it would exonerate him.
“I am confident in the process, I am working with the process,” he said. “I deny absolutely any allegations that have been made against me.”
Horner’s supporters have suggested a power struggle over the team lies behind the way the investigation has been conducted, with the parent company unusually choosing to make the inquiry public from the off. One source stated it was an effort to “clip his wings or remove him from the job altogether”.
Horner, however, maintained that at no point had he felt any compunction to step back from the team given the circumstances. “Absolutely not,” he said. “I have convinced people to come here and work here, I enjoy working here with the people. The biggest asset of this team is the people, that continues to be the case.”
Red Bull expect another very strong season on track with the RB20 car. They have dominated the past two years, comfortably winning the drivers’ and constructors’ titles. Horner has delivered remarkable success since he became team principal in 2005 when Red Bull bought the team which at the time was Jaguar. He was the youngest team principal in the sport but is now the longest serving on the current grid.