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JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Christian Horner believes it’s time to “move on” and put the focus back on the Formula 1 track, saying that’s where “the spotlight should be.” .
But the sport remains under a cloud amid the ongoing fallout from allegations of misconduct against the Red Bull team principal and further off-track controversy surrounding the FIA.
Horner was speaking at an FIA press conference ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Thursday, just hours after Red Bull Racing suspended with pay the female complainant who made the allegations.
The complaint against Horner was dismissed following an investigation by independent investigator King’s Counsel (KC). The complainant’s suspension is related to the outcome of the investigation, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.
questioner Competitor Regarding the suspension, Horner said he “cannot comment on any confidentiality between employees and the company.”
The “move on” remarks came during a 30-minute press conference that was largely devoted to questions from Horner, who said: “It’s time to move on and draw a line in the sand. He said this was a “very difficult” time for him and his family and said the “invasion” against them must end. (Horner’s marriage to former Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell-Horner prompted increased media coverage, especially in the UK.)
Horner admitted that a set of anonymous leaked messages purportedly sent between him and the complainant that emerged last week “received widespread publicity”. (Last week, he declined to comment on what he called “anonymous, speculative information from an unknown source.”)
“It’s all focused in one direction,” Horner said. “What happens after that is other people try to take advantage of that. Unfortunately, Formula One is a very competitive industry and obviously all parties want to benefit from it. That’s perhaps the not-so-rosy side of our industry. “
A recurring question about the case has centered on Red Bull’s lack of transparency and detail from Horner’s two rival F1 team bosses – Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and McLaren’s Zak Brown This was highlighted last week. “I believe that as a global movement, the desire on these critical topics requires more transparency,” Wolff said. “I want to know where the movement stands.”
Announcing the findings, Red Bull Racing’s parent company Red Bull Ltd said the report was “confidential” and “no further comment will be made out of respect for all involved”. That means the details of the charges and the reasons for dismissing the complaint remain unknown.
When asked about the need for transparency, Horner emphasized secrecy, especially in an era when F1 has been pushing for greater inclusivity and attracted a new influx of young female fans.
Horner called it a “complex issue,” before noting that it was Red Bull’s internal matter and that the process was “confidential between individuals and the company itself.”
“Unfortunately, because of these secrecy and out of respect for the company and the other person, I don’t have that freedom and we’re all subject to the same restrictions,” Horner said. “So even if I wanted to talk about it, I couldn’t because of these confidentiality restrictions.”
He said it was “not an FIA problem” and “not a Formula 1 problem” but “a company and employee problem, which is the same in any major organization”.
There is zero sign of F1’s governing body, the FIA, getting involved in the matter. While FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem told the Financial Times in Bahrain last week that the situation was “hurting the sport”, he also said he did not want to “be too hasty” and pass the FIA Department of Compliance or Ethics conduct any investigation.
Thursday, when Competitor When approached for comment on Red Bull’s decision, a spokesperson said they were surprised to be asked about what they called a “team employment issue” and recommended contacting F1. An F1 spokesman declined to comment.
Meanwhile, the FIA has its own problems. Its compliance department is investigating its president bin Sulayem over accusations he interfered with the outcome of last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, BBC Sport first reported. The FIA said it had “received a report detailing potential allegations involving certain members of its governing body” and was “assessing the concerns”.
BBC Sport later reported that Ben Sulayem was also being investigated for allegedly wanting to prevent the Las Vegas circuit from being certified. An FIA spokesman said: “From a sporting and safety perspective, the approval of the Las Vegas circuit follows FIA protocols in terms of inspection and certification. “If you recall, due to local organizers Construction work is ongoing and there are delays in making the track available for inspection. The spokesman also highlighted Ben Sulayem’s interview with GP Racing magazine last November, in which he explained his support for the layout of the Las Vegas circuit.
At Thursday’s press conference, all four team principals – Horner and Clark as well as Williams’ James Walls and Alpine’s Bruno Farming – were asked about their thoughts on the FIA Chairman’s Inquiry. Farming said we should pay attention to what happens on the track. Clark said that from Aston Martin’s perspective, the matter was “clear and closed”. Walls said he was pleased the process was in place and “from what I understand, it’s being reviewed and it’s the right thing to do.”
The investigation is the latest in a series of controversies involving the FIA president. But Horner urged people not to “get ahead of the facts”.
“There needs to be an investigation,” Horner said. “I am confident that the procedures set out by the parties involved and by FIA regulations will be followed.
“What I would urge is not to prejudge. Wait for the facts. Wait to see what the reality is before you judge.”
While Horner may want to focus on F1’s “tracks and cars”, the ongoing turmoil is having a serious impact on the sport. There is no escaping this. For the past three weeks, it’s been on the back pages of newspapers as well as the front pages. People talk about F1 for reasons the sport doesn’t want.
“From the outside, from the outside, it definitely doesn’t look good,” Lewis Hamilton said on Wednesday. “This is a very, very important moment for the sport to demonstrate and stand up for our values and to hold us accountable for our actions.” He called it a “really, truly pivotal moment” for F1 because It sends a message to the rest of the world.
“I hope this year doesn’t continue like this,” Hamilton said. “It highlights some of the issues we also have in the sport, such as when we talk about diversity and inclusion, including gender, making people feel comfortable in that environment is key. But that’s clearly not the case. .”
Horner is right, the action on the track is where F1’s “spotlight should be”. But as long as these questions and concerns persist, the focus will remain elsewhere.
(Lead photo of Christian Horner and Mohammed bin Sulayem at the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP)
