Red Bull Racing team principal and CEO Christian Horner will continue in his position within the Formula One team following the dismissal of allegations concerning "inappropriate behavior" that surfaced earlier this month.
"The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed," a spokesperson for the racing team's parent company, Red Bull GmbH, said in a statement.
The statement added that the complainant retains the right to appeal and that Red Bull expresses confidence in the fairness, thoroughness, and impartiality of the conducted investigation.
Due to the confidential nature of the investigation report, which includes private information of involved parties and third parties who contributed to the inquiry, no further comments will be made by the company out of respect for all parties involved.
"Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards," the spokesperson added.
The verdict marks the resolution of an almost month-long saga that began with the public disclosure of allegations on February 5.
Initial reports suggested that a female employee raised concerns about inappropriate behavior, while other accounts indicated that the issues were linked to his perceived "aggressive management style."
The investigations were conducted by Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of the Formula 1 team, in Austria, indicating the gravity of the situation.
Horner has been the team principal at Red Bull Racing since its inception in 2005, making him the current longest-serving head of a Formula 1 team. Additionally, he holds the position of CEO at Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT), the company responsible for manufacturing power units for their F1 cars, a venture initiated in 2021.
Initially, the team relied on Cosworth engines in 2005 and Ferrari engines in 2006. From 2007 to 2018, they utilized engines provided by Renault, and from 2019 to 2021, they partnered with Honda.
Despite the official conclusion of the Honda partnership in 2021, the Japanese company continues to collaborate with RBPT in engine development until 2025. Subsequently, Ford is set to join as Red Bull's new partner ahead of the significant F1 regulation changes in 2026.
Ford is not happy with how Red Bull handled Christian Horner investigation
Before Red Bull delivered the verdict, their future engine partner, Ford, expressed frustration with the progress and lack of transparency surrounding the investigation on Horner.
Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford Motor Company, communicated his dissatisfaction in a letter sent to the reigning Constructors' champion.
"As we have indicated previously, without satisfactory response, Ford's values are non-negotiable. It is imperative that our racing partners share and demonstrate a genuine commitment to those same values," the automotive giant executive wrote in the letter.
While the investigations were ongoing, Horner carried on his duties as team principal, attending the F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain from February 23 to 25.
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