Horner is the topic of a probe launched by Pink Bull’s power drinks mum or dad firm into unspecified allegations made in opposition to him by a feminine worker.
He has denied any wrongdoing and just lately confronted prolonged questioning by the unbiased barrister who has been appointed by Pink Bull to look into the matter.
Whereas Pink Bull goes by means of the method of analysing the findings of the investigation to determine what, if any, motion it needs to take, Horner has remained in his job.
He spoke finally week’s launch of the group’s F1 2024 automobile at its Milton Keynes manufacturing unit, and is anticipated to attend this week’s pre-season take a look at at Bahrain forward of the F1 season opener on 2 March.
Curiosity surrounding the Horner affair, in addition to the character of the allegations, has been rising in current days, and is prone to intensify because the F1 paddock gathers in Bahrain for the beginning of the 2024 marketing campaign.
On Sunday, F1’s business rights holders issued a brief assertion declaring that it hoped the matter can be resolved as quickly as doable – in what could possibly be seen as a transparent message to Pink Bull to not permit issues to pull on so that they overshadow the beginning of the marketing campaign.
“We now have famous that Pink Bull has instigated an unbiased investigation into inside allegations at Pink Bull Racing,” mentioned the assertion from F1.
“We hope that the matter will probably be clarified on the earliest alternative, after a good and thorough course of and we won’t remark additional at the moment.”
Whereas F1 hopes that the scenario is resolved shortly, it has no formal authority to have the ability to drive the matter nor get entangled in any motion on the group or Horner ought to it deemed needed.
That falls below the remit of the FIA, which may select to get entangled if there’s proof of any wrongdoing that goes in opposition to requirements that it upholds.
Christian Horner, Crew Principal, Pink Bull Racing, within the Crew Principals Press Convention
Picture by: Motorsport Photos
Article 12.2.1f of the Worldwide Sporting Code states {that a} competitor will probably be deemed to have dedicated an offence for: “Any phrases, deeds or writings which have brought about ethical damage or loss to the FIA, its our bodies, its members or its govt officers, and extra typically on the curiosity of motorsport and on the values defended by the FIA.”
F1’s assertion in regards to the Horner scenario comes a number of days after Pink Bull’s future engine associate Ford mentioned it was protecting a detailed eye on the scenario.
Chatting with the Related Press, Mark Rushbrook, international head of Ford Efficiency Motorsport, mentioned that the automobile large anticipated sure requirements to be upheld by Pink Bull.
“As a household firm, and an organization that holds itself to very excessive requirements of behaviour and integrity, we do anticipate the identical from our companions,” Rushbrook mentioned.
“It seems to us, and what we’ve been instructed, was that Pink Bull is taking the scenario very severely. And naturally, they’re fearful about their model, as effectively.
“And that’s why they’ve acquired an unbiased investigation and till we see what fact comes out of that, it’s too early for us to touch upon all of it.”
Talking on the automobile launch final week, Horner mentioned the investigation into his behaviour had been a distraction for the group, however insisted that it will not impression its on-track focus.
Horner mentioned: “Inevitably there was a distraction, however the group are very collectively.
“Everyone’s centered on the season forward. So it has been very a lot enterprise as regular. The assist has been incredible.”
