Red Bull confirm: Christian Horner WILL STAY on as team boss
- Ludo van Denderen
Christian Horner will stay as team boss of Red Bull Racing. Red Bull - the racing team's parent company - came to this decision after an extensive investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour. The investigation found that Horner was not guilty, and he can stay as team boss.
Horner's staying on still comes as somewhat of a surprise. There had been increasing speculation in recent days that the Brit no longer had a future at the racing stable for which Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are racing for. It was slowly becoming an open secret that Mark Mateschitz (the son of the late Red Bull founder Dietrich) and CEO Oliver Mintzlaff wanted to get rid of Horner. It was reportedly the company's Thai co-owner Chalerm Yoovidhya who did not want to get rid of Horner.
Investigation into Horner completed
In the end, Red Bull finally decided in Austria that Horner did not have to leave. The Brit admittedly came under scrutiny a few weeks ago after a female Red Bull Racing employee accused him of inappropriate behaviour. It was never officially announced exactly what the allegations entailed, but De Telegraaf reported that they involved sexual messages sent on Whatsapp from Horner to the employee. So the investigation now appears to have revealed that no reason was found to send Horner away.
Next weekend, the first Grand Prix of the F1 season is scheduled. Horner will, therefore, be on the pit wall as usual during that race. The Brit has been the person in charge since Red Bull Racing's very first Grand Prix.