Red Bull has suspended a female employee who filed a grievance against team principal Christian Horner, alleging inappropriate behaviour, after an independent investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing.
The woman, whose name has not been disclosed, lodged a complaint against Horner in early February, prompting Red Bull to launch an internal inquiry. Horner, who has been in charge of the Formula One team since 2005, denied the allegations and continued to perform his duties.
Last week, Red Bull announced that the grievance had been dismissed, following a “fair, rigorous and impartial” investigation by an external lawyer. The woman was given the right to appeal the decision within five working days.
However, according to the PA news agency, the woman has been suspended on full pay as a direct result of the inquiry. It is understood that she received a legal letter at the beginning of this week, informing her of the suspension.
A Red Bull spokesperson said: “We are unable to comment as it is an internal matter.”
The case has cast a shadow over Red Bull and the sport, especially as it coincided with the start of the new season. Horner, who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, said he was “absolutely confident” he would remain in his role for the rest of the year.
He also refused to comment on the authenticity of a series of leaked messages, allegedly sent by him, that were circulated to several Formula One reporters last week.
Horner is currently in Saudi Arabia, where he is due to take part in an official press conference ahead of the second race of the season on Sunday. He will face questions from the media and his rivals about the controversy.
The case has also sparked a debate about the culture and environment of Formula One, which has been historically male-dominated and white. James Vowles, the team principal of Williams, said the sport had to “look at each other in the mirror” and ensure that it acted in a way that it could be proud of.