Red Bull Christian Horner Investigation Harassment Allegations

Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner faces internal investigation over inappropriate behavior claims by female colleague. F1's hostile environment towards women.

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner is currently under internal investigation following allegations of inappropriate behavior by a female colleague, as reported by Reuters. The energy drink company has launched an independent investigation into the claims, although specific details about the allegations have not been disclosed.

This comes at a time when Formula 1 has been under scrutiny for its treatment of women, from female fans facing harassment at race events to the prolonged absence of female drivers on the grid. The alleged actions of Horner only serve to exacerbate these issues.

In a statement released by Red Bull, the company stated, "After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation. This process, which is already underway, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister. The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."

Horner has been at the helm of Red Bull Racing since its establishment in 2005 and has been instrumental in leading the team to four consecutive championships from 2010 to 2013, alongside star driver Sebastian Vettel. In 2013, Horner ended a long-term relationship and announced his engagement to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell the following year.

Under Horner's leadership, Red Bull Racing has continued to dominate in F1, with the team winning all but one race during the 2023 season. Max Verstappen secured his third championship in a row, marking the most successful season in the sport's history. The team is set to unveil its 2024 car next week.

The rise in F1's popularity has brought attention to the harassment faced by female fans, both online and in physical spaces. During the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix, 15 women reported being harassed. While F1 has made efforts to be more inclusive, women still make up only a small fraction of the sport's workforce.

In a bid to promote diversity, all 10 F1 teams have pledged support to F1 Academy's sophomore season, with each team entering a driver in the all-female competition. Red Bull-owned F1 teams will be represented by sisters Amna and Hamda Al Qubaisi, while Dutch driver Emely de Heus will also participate in F1 Academy as a non-team entry backed by Red Bull. It has been over 30 years since a woman has raced in F1 as a driver.