‘Others trying to take advantage’ of Red Bull controversy

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner accused others of trying to exploit the controversy surrounding the company’s investigation of him last week.

Horner was cleared following an internal investigation over allegations he had behaved improperly towards an employee. No details of the findings have been made public, but last week material purportedly used in the investigation was widely leaked.

It emerged today the member of staff who made the allegations against Horner has been suspended. Speaking in an FIA press conference today Horner repeatedly said he could not offer any further details regarding the case.

“I can’t comment on anything that’s confidential between an employee and the company, so I can’t offer you anything on that,” he said.

While Red Bull has faced criticism for issuing minimal details about the investigation and outcome, Horner said any company would handle a similar matter the same way.

“It’s a complicated issue because each company, and these companies will be exactly the same as with any other major company, there is a grievance process that takes place in any company. And that process is confidential between the individuals and the company itself.”

He said he could not shed further light on the matter “due to those confidentiality [requirements], and out of the respect to the company and, of course, the other party, we’re all bound by the same restrictions.

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“So even if I would like to talk about it, I can’t because of those confidentiality restrictions. Now, there’s a reason for that.

“The only reason that this has gained so much attention, obviously, is because of the leakage and attention that there’s been drawn, in the media and which has been very, very trying in many respects. Particularly for my family because it’s all been focussed very much in one direction.”

During last week’s Bahrain Grand Prix some team principals called on the FIA and Formula One Management to ensure Red Bull go further to answer the questions surrounding the case. Horner believes they are trying to find an opportunity to weaken Red Bull.

“Of course what has happened then, after that, is others have looked to take advantage of it. Unfortunately, Formula 1 is a competitive business and there’s been obviously, elements have looked at to benefit from it, and that’s perhaps the not-so-pretty side of our industry.

“There are always lessons, but there’s a process…