There's another stir at Red Bull: The case surrounding team boss Christian Horner is picking up speed again. The reason is a new investigation that could incriminate the Briton.
Shanghai – The Red Bull Formula 1 team is not really looking upbeat this season. In terms of sport, the Brause racing team is headed by world champion Max Verstappen, who leads the World Cup standings ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez. Internally, however, there is no peace and quiet. The reason: The case surrounding team boss Christian Horner should be reopened.
Team boss Horner emerged stronger from the internal power struggle at Red Bull
As is well known, after allegations from an employee at the beginning of the season that the Briton had behaved inappropriately towards her, an internal investigation was initiated by Red Bull - with a positive outcome for Horner.
The 50-year-old was ultimately acquitted and even emerged stronger from the internal power struggle that is said to have taken place behind the scenes at Red Bull.
Horner can be sure of the support of Red Bull's majority owner
However, this was also due, among other things, to the fact that the Thai majority owner of Red Bull, Chalerm Yoovidhya, had apparently positioned himself protectively in front of the team boss. The Austrian side around sports director Oliver Mintzlaff and motorsport director Dr. Helmut Marko, on the other hand, is said to have planned to remove Horner as team boss.
Even those around Max Verstappen and his father Jos are said to have campaigned for Horner to leave. The Briton, however, clung to his chair and seemed to be able to ride out the storm raging around him.
Red Bull employee is appealing and should be questioned again
Now, however, the Horner case is entering the next round. According to a report in the English newspaper
Sun,
the employee is said to have appealed and will be questioned again in the coming days.
According to the
Sun
, it could even happen that Horner also has to answer questions again. This time, however, the new investigation will be led by a different lawyer.
Lawyer of the first investigation was said to be close to the Thai camp
According to Sun, the lawyer in the first investigation was said to be too close to the Thai camp, which was on Horner's side. The Horner scandal seems to be continuing to concern Red Bull for now, and the outcome of the new investigation is uncertain.
It remains to be seen whether the internal quarrels surrounding Horner will affect Red Bull's sporting success in Formula 1. Before the Grand Prix in China (the race starts on Sunday at 9 a.m. German time), Verstappen and Perez greet from the top of the driver panel. Verstappen and Perez finished the last race in Japan in first two places. Red Bull also leads the constructors' championship.
Is Red Bull's sporting dominance in Formula 1 crumbling?
However, the teams behind Red Bull are already scratching their hooves and waiting for the next slip-up from the Austrian racing team. Verstappen unexpectedly retired from the Grand Prix in Australia due to brake problems.
Ferrari promptly took advantage of the moment and achieved a double victory with the driver team of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. In the constructors' championship, the Italians are only 21 points behind Red Bull in second place. Should Red Bull slip up again in the coming races, Ferrari or Team McLaren, which also knows how to impress this season, will want to be there.
(kus)