Red Bull celebrates its past at launch but Horner’s future remains the focus · RaceFans

A parade of Red Bull Formula 1 cars, including some of the most dominant and successful machines of recent seasons, greeted visitors to their Milton Keynes base for yesterday’s launch event.

But the car which started it all off was missing. Beneath the ‘RB1’ banner sat an example from three years later.

It soon became clear this was no oversight on Red Bull’s part. The team’s first F1 car had been wheeled into another hall where the launch took place, in order to play a starring role in proceedings.

Red Bull kicked off the launch of their 20th F1 car by firing up the first of them. As the blare of the RB1’s three-litre V10 Cosworth engine filled the room, it felt like a literal attempt to drown out the noise surrounding the team.

For Red Bull, the occasion was a chance to celebrate their achievements since entering the sport 19 years ago. Having started a run of four consecutive championship sweeps just six years into their existence, recently returned to title-winning ways and proved utterly supreme last season, they had much to celebrate.

For the assembled media, the question looming over the event was could Red Bull keep the spotlight on their successes and their pursuit of yet more glory, and away from the matter of team principal Christian Horner’s position in the team?

The revelation Horner was the subject of an internal investigation regarding his conduct came long after the team had confirmed its launch plans. With his future at the team in doubt, questions immediately arose over whether Horner would appear at the launch of their new RB20.

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But with the investigation being handled by the team’s Austrian parent company, and Horner remaining in charge for the meantime at least, Red Bull pressed ahead with their launch plans. Horner was the first person to be introduced on stage.

Central to the investigation he faces are accusations of alleged controlling behaviour towards a Red Bull employee, which Horner denies. Naturally, the situation wasn’t as much as hinted at during the official presentation, where Horner took the opportunity to pay tribute to the team’s 1,500 staff.

“The men and women here at Milton Keynes, all the people behind the scenes, it’s out of these industrial buildings that we created some of the most incredible cars over the last 19 seasons,” said Horner. “The…