The Red Bull staff member who came forward with the allegations against team principal and CEO Christian Horner has been suspended on full pay, according to the BBC and The Telegraph.
Asked to comment on this development, a spokesperson for Red Bull Racing said: “The company cannot comment on this internal matter.”
Although Horner was officially cleared of any wrongdoing following an independent investigation that concluded just as the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend was getting underway, the story has continued to develop over the past few weeks.
In their statement, Red Bull revealed that they had dismissed the grievance, adding that “the complainant has a right of appeal.”
The statement said: “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 assured that it “will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.”
Horner has continued to deny the allegations, remaining tight-lipped when asked to comment on the matter, even after a folder containing alleged evidence from the investigation was sent out to accredited journalists, team principals, and other senior officials.
Formula 1 and FIA chiefs are said to be monitoring the developing situation, with Mohammed Ben Sulayem acknowledging that the ongoing controversy is “damaging” to the sport, though no concrete action has been taken.
Horner has remained in his role since the story first broke, though there is reportedly growing tension within Red Bull, with Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, calling for Horner’s departure, believing his presence threatens to tear the team apart.
Horner is set to appear at the team principals’ press conference in Saudi Arabia later today.
