Red Bull’s handling of its investigation into allegations against team principal Christian Horner has been defended by its motorsport director Helmut Marko.
The Formula 1 team’s Austrian parent company confirmed two weeks ago it had begun an independent investigation in response to unspecified claims made regarding Horner. He attended an internal hearing on Friday 10th February then appeared at the launch of the team’s new F1 car last week.
Formula One Management said in a statement two days ago they “hope the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity, after a fair and thorough process.”
Speaking to the Red Bull-owned channel Servus TV yesterday, Marko said the process is taking time to complete because the company is determined to ensure it is fair.
“It’s an internal investigation,” he said. “The sooner a result the better because, of course, rumours and other stories sprout due to this long duration.
“I think Red Bull reacted very well in this matter. There is nothing we can do about the long duration of this investigation. They are trying to conduct a fair investigation and then react accordingly.”
Horner is expected to be at the Bahrain International Circuit this week for the three-day pre-season test which starts tomorrow. The first race of the new F1 season takes place a week on Saturday.
He insisted it was “business as usual” for the team at their launch last week despite the ongoing investigation.
“There is an investigation that I am obviously complying with and I am working with fully,” he said. “So that is very much going on in the background whilst preparing for the season ahead.
“Inevitably there has been a distraction. 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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