Red Bull Racing, the reigning Formula One (F1) champions, announced that Christian Horner will stay in his position as team manager after the energy drink business behind the team absolved him of any wrongdoing with a female employee.
Following an independent inquiry over which the team had no control, Red Bull released a statement on Wednesday.
A Red Bull representative stated, “Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.”
In a statement, the energy drink manufacturer from Austria expressed its “confidence that the investigation has been fair, rigorous, and impartial.”
The statement states that the complainant is entitled to an appeal.
Since its parent firm initially said on February 5 that it was conducting an investigation, the team has persisted in keeping the specifics of the accusations private.
The statement said, “We will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned parties. The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation.”
A female coworker of Horner’s allegedly engaged in “controlling behavior” filed a complaint with Red Bull, according to the Times newspaper.
Horner, fifty, is wed to Geri Halliwell, a former Spice Girls vocalist. He refutes the accusations, he told the Dutch publication De Telegraaf.
He took a flight from London to Bahrain on Wednesday, but he did not show up for a media day at the circuit before this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, which opens the season.
Prior to the announcement of the investigation’s conclusion, a number of Formula One executives made comments. Toto Wolff, the head of the Mercedes team, called it “an issue for all of Formula One” and demanded openness.
Since Red Bull Racing joined Formula One as a full constructor in 2005, Horner has served as the team principal. He has won six constructors’ titles and led seven drivers to world championships.
Red Bull Racing won 21 of 22 races and Max Verstappen won his third straight championship in the season that Horner oversaw.
