The appeal of the woman who lodged a complaint against Red Bull team principal Christian Horner regarding his behavior has been dismissed. Her initial complaint, filed in December, included allegations of coercive and abusive behavior, as well as sexual harassment by Horner, 50.
In February, Red Bull cleared Horner of the allegations after an internal investigation conducted by an independent lawyer. Following the appeal, another independent lawyer has now concluded that the appeal against that decision was not upheld.
In a statement, Red Bull said it had “accepted and adopted” the conclusions of the lawyer. The company also emphasized that it “respects the privacy of all its employees and will not be making further public comment on this matter at this time.”
Since March, the complainant has been suspended by Red Bull, with reports indicating that the reason given to her was dishonesty. Red Bull’s recent statement did not address her current employment status.
The company has maintained confidentiality throughout the investigation and has not provided additional details since it became public in early February.
Following the dismissal of the complaint, a set of messages allegedly involving Horner was leaked to nearly 150 senior F1 personnel and media. Horner labeled the leak as “anonymous, speculative messages from an unknown source” and declined to comment on its contents.
In related news, Red Bull’s design chief Adrian Newey has announced his intention to leave the team in early 2025, citing the ongoing controversy as a factor in his decision.
The 2024 Formula 1 season is set to resume at the Dutch Grand Prix on August 23, after the summer break, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen leading the drivers’ championship in his pursuit of a fourth consecutive title.
