The opening weekend of a Formula One season has never been hijacked in the way the Christian Horner ‘situation’ has overshadowed this weekend in Bahrain. F1 commentators have struggled to focus on the on track action and seemed distracted during their post qualifying analysis.
Yet no one can blame the Red Bull team boss who has refused to divulge any information or opinion on the matter as he struggles to fight back the tidal wave of negative content being released with one purpose – to destroy his reputation and force his employer to take action.
FIA president meets Horner
Following the anonymous email sent to 149 senior F1 figures which included salacious content, it was suggested that the FIA could take action and remove Horner from his position under the International Sporting Code article which deals with bringing F1 into disrepute. Yet as TJ13 analysed xxxxx this is clearly not within the remit of the FIA given they have received no complaint to investigate.
TV pictures showed a brief meeting between FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Horner in the pit lane during practice three and reports suggest they later met with FD1 boss Stefano Domenicali for further discussions.
Of course both F1 and the FIA would favour being offered sight of the Red Bull investigative report into the allegations made against Horner but as the Austrian based company made clear, this is unlikely to happen.
“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,” said a statement from Red Bull Gmbh.
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Ben Sulayem: “its damaging the sport”
Speaking to the Financial Times the FIA president refused to reveal what had been discussed with Horner other than to say the saga had been “damaging” for F1.
“It’s damaging the sport… This is damaging on a human level,” Ben Sulayem said.
Stating that it is vital to “protect our sport from all of this”, he added: “It is the beginning of the season. F1 is becoming so popular. We just need to enjoy the beginning of the season. Look at the competition.
“Why do we overshadow it with negativity?”
Unusual “kiss and tell”
The FIA boss confirmed the Federation had no intention of conducting their own investigation given no complaint had been received by their ‘compliance officer.’
While the paddock media obsess over what Horner did or didn’t do, the big question not being addressed is who is behind this attempt to being down the longest standing team principal in F1?
The course of most ‘kiss and tell’ revelations usually confirms the identity of the victim, who is clearly out for ‘justice’ in terms of media sympathy or even financial remuneration. Yet in this case the female who raised concerns over potential “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” remains anonymous and it is inconceivable it is she who released the dossier of alleged ‘evidence.’
TJ13 reported last season that there was trouble amongst the Red Bull parent company hierarchy following there death of Didi Mateschitz who ran the organisation as its godfather.
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Red Bull ‘civil war’
The two owners of the company appear to be at war with each other with one wanting Horner out and the other staying loyal to the man who brought huge success to the organisation in terms of F1 trophies.
Son of Didi, Mark Mateschitz is believed to be keen to get rid of Christian Horner and he is supported by Red Bull MD Oliver Mintzlaff – who is believed to be favoured to step into the breach should Horner leave the team.
The duo believe Horner is too senior and expensive and want to consolidate the entire Red Bull operation out of Austria. Red Bull F1 Racing is at present an outlier and runs its affairs fairly independently of the board in Salzburg.
Vitaly in Horner’s corner sits the Thai businessman whose father Chaleo established the Red Bull empire with Mateschitz in 1984. His controlling two percent margin means the board cannot act without his agreement and for now this appears to have saved Christian Horner’s skin.
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Thai majority shareholders back Horner
Yoovidhya is a key supporter of Horner within the company, with the Thailand-based faction of the organisation unified behind the chairman.
The fashion by which the dossier was released and sent to so many significant individuals in F1 suggests an orchestrated approach with substantial resources behind the attack on Horner.
A second ‘drop’ was expected on Friday evening following qualifying, though this ‘part 2’ of the Horner investigation evidence never arrived. Could it be the initial revelations failed to deliver the designed effect and those behind it are having second thoughts?
Meanwhile the Mainline reports an unnamed relative of the complainant had agreed to speak out about the “disgusting” saga following the leak of secret ‘evidence’ from an investigation into Horner’s conduct via an anonymous email account.
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Female accuser “never any relationship” with Horner
“My reaction to all this is that it is disgusting,” the relative was quoted as saying. “In the words of Red Bull, Christian Horner has been cleared but I think many people look at that answer and can’t quite fathom out the truth behind it.”
The claimant’s relative believes the case cannot be consigned to history following the apparent leaked evidence but the had “no idea” who was behind the anonymous email.
Interesting the relative claimed there was “never any relationship” between Horner and the claimant and that any private details between the pair were never discussed with her family members.
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No resolution in sight
It appears that Horner has been found innocent of “controlling and inappropriate behaviour” because the alleged evidence suggests anything which passed between the parties was consensual. The relative is keen to deny this completely.
“If you work for a person like him, you live with many pieces of information that are not to be disclosed. She certainly hasn’t spoken to me about it,” the source added. “We speak every day and she’s very unhappy – of course. In her way of thinking it’s all very one-sided and she’s been crucified.
Should this all be the result of a civil war in the Red Bull energy drinks empire, then there is little hope of any swift or expedited solution. Horner is adamant he will stay and so long as his Thai shareholders remain in his corner, it aopapers there is little his would be assassins can realise.
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The female complainant took her grievance to the top of the company, they investigated and decided there was no case for CH to answer. She might not like it – but that was the result of their independent investigation.
How can a ‘relative’ say it’s disgusting etc and then say the complainant has or spoken to them about it?!
Terms of such complaints usually require both parties to keep details private … someone has broken that agreement and should be dealt with appropriately – and that was obviously NOT Horner or HIS backers!
Something smells here. He’s been HUGELY successful – keep him on and bury whoever wants him out
Agreed, Red Bull must stand by Horner and not allow these ‘accusers’ to destroy Horner’s career and life. It seems that having a disagreement with a person in a Company means you can be destroyed – trial by media!!! We must not allow this to keep happening.
“Their” independent investigation doesn’t sound very independent. I assume she’s not been dismissed yet. Surely then she would take it to a truly independent tribunal.
Either way Red Bull’s civil war is dragging F1 through the gutter.
Get Jos out of the Redbull pit. Out of the racing field.
I agree, from what I have seen, Jos needs to step away and let Max handle things himself, he’s now older and wiser.
Absolutely get rid of Jos soonest!!!
Jos Verstappen having too much to say I think, he wants the job really
I think you have hit the nail on the head. This whole affair reeks of malicious intent and believe jos to be the instigator. I thinks he wants control of his son’s racing career. He is a bully and a woman abuser so…… I don’t believe in his integrity
Sounds like “if you can’t beat Red Bull by building a better car then attempt to destabilise them by attacking the person at the top of the team, other than the driver”.
Why can’t the Red Bull fans understand that this is not somebody from outside attacking Red Bull it is from within Red Bull themselves. Horner is the author of his own demise, what was he thinking.?
Rubbish.
Why would anyone wants to know what happened and wants transparency if it is private? Just shows how disrespectful the world has become..Cant respect others….no, they want transparency because they are too curious about others and people like them like dragging people through the mud…..
Learn to respect….if it is called to be private, then let it be…it means exactly what it says…private…grow up people…get some balls & start respecting others around you if you know what that means…
Yes, it is clear Yos wants to run Max’s whole life and racing career& Yos has proven that he will lose everything to do that….Now, the team that helped them to get to the top, Yos openly slanders…
If there is anyone that will explode the team…it will be Yos….and if you think it is Horner….you wrong, because even if they swap teams along the way…the same will happen at that team…Cos Yos wants to be in control… and honor…it’s all about Yos and not even about his son Max… Yos will hurt Max’s career no matter where they go….I think should start to think that dad should step back and be there for support & advice….this is Max’s career… Just because Yos couldn’t make it in F1…means he want to live it through his son….Yos, leave your son’s career to him… Be a dad & step back enjoy your son’s success…stop being the control freak
Max is a adult and needs to decide is future for himself. Jos needs to get out of the Red Bull pit and STFU. This is a vendetta against Horner. He has already been cleared so lets move on and GO RACING. I am fully on Horner’s side he has put Red Bull where it is today. Let move on and think about what this is doing to his wife and kids.
Keep strong Horner
Private issues is not to ne discussed in the media.
Let the lady speak for herself if she is so unjustly wronged.
Why is Jos Verstappen and Ralph Schumacher even quoted about the issue ?
Jos is a woman abuser of note and not worthy to have an opinion .
This whole issue is like racism .It is kept alive because people keep on talking about it .
Fact is first two races RB one two on podium !!!!
I agree with the majority, its Jos that is causing all of this rubbish. He wants Horners job and he will keep at it until he gets what he wants. I think Jos needs to be pulled in for inappropriate and controlling behaviour towards his own son. He also needs kept out the redbull pits whilst racing is on as he made an absolute show of himself over the weekend. This man will do what ever it takes to get rid of Horner and destroy his life and redbull need to stop him before this happens.
I’m in agreement Jos needs to leave the running of RB to those who know what they’re doing. Max doesn’t need a baby sitter. I think family members should spectate and that’s my opinion.
Full agrement. Redbull built there glory well befor max. Max is a big boy now so needs to make the disitions himself… but at least he didnt sack his dad after first champianship oh wait daddy dearest is not his manager.
Jos i think CH and the rest of the team know what there doing, they have been runing a fairly sucsesful team before max joined so just let them do it.
This whole thing smells of rotting fish tbh.
If this so called complainted is not hapy with the results she has legal options avaiable for employment tribunal etc (which for the blood sucking transpareny seekers) would them be publis records.
I personally think the pot stirers is los and the Austria offices. As yes. Maybe CH paid to much etc nut he was won them champianships and more with the team. Where there is smoke thre is usually fire.. im not seeing the fire (as in it doesnt just happen once, after 20 yrs or so there would be othercases sudenly coming out of the wood work as what usually happen.
As for that friend/relative what she said is only hersay and pretty much means didly squat
Jos FO
Exactly what has this got to do with Ralph Schumacher? He’s seen an opportunity to get his named mentioned and needs the publicity as he he was forgotten about the same way Jos was…….. they were both mediocre and average on their best day ! They’re both toxic has beens and only ever surface where there is controversy. They need to butt out and shut up so that the correct people can deal with whatever needs to be addressed its that simple