Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insists it is “business as normal” for his team as they prepare for the new season while he faces an investigation into his conduct.
He spoke to media including RaceFans, at the launch of their new RB20 car today, for the first time since the investigation came to light. It is being conducted by the racing team’s parent organisation, based in Austria.
Horner has denied the allegations he faces. He spoke at length to a company lawyer last week and no end date for the investigation has been indicated.
Meanwhile the first practice session for the new season is just two weeks away. Horner said the ongoing investigation has not deflected his attention from the team’s efforts to defend the championships it and driver Max Verstappen won last year.
“My focus is very much on the season ahead,” he said. “It has been business as normal.
“Obviously there is an investigation that I am obviously complying with and I am working with fully. So that is very much going on in the background whilst preparing for the season ahead.”
“Inevitably there has been a distraction,” he admitted. “But the team are very together. Everybody’s focussed on the season ahead, so it’s been very much business as normal, and the support has been fantastic.”
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Red Bull is marking its 20th season in Formula 1 this year, all of which Horner has overseen. The team began its launch today with a video reflecting on its past glories, and series of championship triumphs with Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel.
However Horner indicated he is not contemplating the possibility his time in charge of the team may soon come to an end.
“My focus is very much on the year ahead and the racing ahead of us,” he said. “I think the whole team is tremendously proud of what we’ve achieved in the last 19 seasons, but it’s always what lies ahead of you rather than what’s behind you.
“But with great pride in what we’ve done in 19 years as we come into our 20th season, there’s some big moments. Some real highs, a few lows in there, but some outstanding performances.”
Horner was placed in charge of the team when Dietrich Mateschitz purchased the former Jaguar team from Ford. Mateschitz died in 2022, and news of the investigation prompted speculation Horner is now at the centre of a struggle for control of the team, which he denied.
“We’re very united,” said Horner. “We’ve always had…
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