Christian Horner put the matter behind him. The historic director of the Red Bull Formula 1 team was cleared, Wednesday February 28, by an internal investigation, of accusations of “inappropriate behavior” towards an employee. During the Bahrain Grand Prix, the first of the season, on Saturday, its drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, took victory and second place. Enough to give him hope that this issue will no longer poison a world championship for which the Austrian armada has great ambitions. It is clear that this is not the case.
A few hours after his son’s victory on the Sakhir circuit, Jos Verstappen protested, declaring to Daily Mail that the team was going “explode” if the Briton kept his post. “There is tension as long as it remains in placeasserted the former Dutch driver. We can’t continue like this. » The words are harsh and unequivocal towards Mr. Horner, 50 years old: “He plays the victim, when he is the one causing the problems. »
Despite its “acquittal”, in his words, the Red Bull boss had already had to face, at the end of the week, several teams who deplored a lack of transparency during the internal procedure. In question, the press release from his employer, most laconic, without any details on the merits of the case. “The investigation report is confidential and contains private information about the parties and third parties who participated in the investigation”the Austrian firm then argued.
“We don’t know everything that happened, but this problem must be resolved because it is a serious problem” on the whole of Formula 1, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton estimated on Wednesday. And the Mercedes driver insists on character ” Very important “ of this episode and the need to stay “faithful [aux] values ». “There will still be a lot of speculation, as a lot of questions remain unanswered about the whole process. And that’s what those who run the sport need to truly put an end to it.”added Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren.
Especially since, on Thursday, an anonymous email, sent to journalists covering Formula 1, to motorsport officials and competing teams, had relaunched the affair, even if its content – in particular WhatsApp messages allegedly written by Christian Horner – could not be verified independently.
“Not much will happen”
The accusations against the Briton were revealed at the beginning of February when a first article appeared in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. Questioned by the Daily Mail on the origin of the information leaked to the media, Jos Verstappen denied any involvement: ” That does not make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here? »
His son, three-time reigning world champion and current Formula 1 star, has until now been relatively discreet about this affair. “If the team boss disappears for some reason for one or two races, not much will happen because everyone knows what they have to dohowever, he said on Wednesday. Things will obviously start to change if one of the leaders is no longer there, but we don’t think about that. »
Christian Horner, married to ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, who was present alongside him on Saturday at the Bahrain Grand Prix, has always denied the facts with which he was accused. After the race, he said he was convinced that his position was not threatened: “A complete and lengthy internal procedure was conducted, and the grievance raised was rejected. End of the story. »