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via Reuters

via Reuters

Christian Horner was missing from the Red Bull pit wall during the third and final practice session for the 2024 season-opening Grand Prix in Bahrain. Ted Kravitz reported during the session that the Red Bull team boss has been summoned by the FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The meeting happened after some serious accusations were made against Horner by a female employee of Red Bull Racing. The accusations attracted a lot of speculation about the leadership and the future of the Brit with the team, but he was recently cleared of them after an investigation.

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Now, the FIA and Formula 1 are in deep discussion about what to do next. The FIA wants to see the investigation report that cleared Horner, but Red Bull Racing’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, hasn’t released it to maintain confidentiality. Even Horner’s fellow counterparts like Zak Brown from McLaren and Toto Wolff from Mercedes are calling for transparency from Red Bull Racing, urging them to make the investigation report public for the sake of the sport.

READ MORE: Christian Horner Grilled by Ex-F1 Boss: “Does Anyone Seriously Think That the Employee Made Up Accusations?”

While Honer has undoubtedly been given the green flag from Red Bull, there are still some doubts in the community about the fairness of the entire process.

What did the statement from Red Bull GmbH say about the investigation

Christian Horner was declared innocent after an investigation into allegations of misconduct. Throughout the inquiry, Horner maintained his innocence, and finally, on Wednesday, he was cleared of all charges. According to a statement released by Red Bull GmbH, the company is confident that the investigation was unbiased.

“The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed,” the statement read. “The ­complainant has a right of appeal. Red Bull is ­confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous, and impartial. The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and therefore we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned. Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.”

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Throughout the investigation, Horner remained firm in his denial of the allegations, expressing his commitment to the team and his intention to continue in his roles as both team principal and chief executive of Red Bull Racing. While the specifics of the allegations and the progress of the investigation were not disclosed, there were suggestions from Horner’s supporters that he may have been the target of a power struggle within Red Bull.

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While Horner might be relieved with the conclusion of the inquiry, the lack of transparency has raised concerns within the Formula 1 community, with some questioning the fairness of the investigation’s outcome. Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford, also expressed frustration at the lack of transparency, especially considering Ford’s future partnership in developing Red Bull’s power units, which is estimated to be around $240 million.

Will the complainant take the matter further and appeal in court? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments down below.