According to F1 insiders, Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner might not survive keeping his job following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
According to a recent BBC Sport report, Red Bull CEO and team principal Christian Horner is facing accusations of “inappropriate and controlling” behaviour which is believed he is unlikely to survive.
Horner is the longest-serving team principal in Formula 1, having led the squad since it was established over 20 years ago. Boasting 13 World Championships in the last 19 years, he has consistently guided the team to victory over the past two decades.
His team had an exceptionally productive season last year, winning a record-breaking 21 races. He was further awarded a CBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List for his services to motorsport.
An independent lawyer has questioned the 50-year-old on claims of “inappropriate behavior” after receiving a complaint from a female employee. It is believed that Horner’s job at Red Bull has something to do with the claims.
Later on Monday, parent company Red Bull GmbH released a statement wherein it stated that it will be taking the charges “very seriously” and that it will conclude the investigation “as soon as practically possible.”
The BBC reports that Horner refuted the accusations in a meeting that included F1’s commercial rights holders, the governing body-FIA and team bosses.
As per the BBC, Horner’s survival in his current capacity is unlikely according to F1 insiders with whom they have discussed the matter. It is still to be seen if Horner’s exploits of being a powerful as well as prominent figure at Red Bull and the wider F1 will ultimately bring him to a downfall.
The publication claimed: “Horner’s future has been the subject of intense speculation in the world of F1 in the days since the allegations emerged on Monday.
“Many insiders who have discussed the situation with BBC Sport do not expect him to survive in his role.”
According to Dutch publication De Telegraaf, Horner has not indicated any desire to step down despite the allegations made against him.
The F1 source has asserted that this issue might not be resolved quickly, noting: “This is not a trial, and we are not going to have an answer and an outcome by the end of the day.
“This is not something that is going to be rectified that quickly. People are expecting this to be over before the start of the F1 season, but that just isn’t going to happen.”
Despite the investigation going public, Horner continues to work at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes headquarters without being placed on any sort of suspension by the company.
As a result of the sensitive and intricate nature of the investigation, which is reportedly far from done, it is anticipated that the matter will inconveniently coincide with the start of the upcoming F1 season, which kicks off with the Bahrain Grand Prix on February 29.
