BAHRAIN — Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, stated that Red Bull must conduct a thorough inquiry into Christian Horner’s conduct, and that Formula One must learn from the incident regardless of the outcome.
A member of the Red Bull F1 team accused Red Bull head Christian Horner of overbearing behaviour and abusive text messages.
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Horner, who is working as usual at F1 preseason testing in Bahrain this week, has categorically refuted the claims against him.
Last week, Formula One called for a quick conclusion to the situation, which has lasted since early February, through Red Bull’s launch and into preseason.
According to sources, Red Bull hopes to resolve the situation before the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 2.
Toto Wolff hopes that his Mercedes team can bridge the gap with Red Bull this season.
“I think it’s clear,” Wolff remarked when questioned about Horner’s case. “Formula One and its teams promote inclusion, equality, fairness, and diversity. And it’s more than just talking about it; it’s about living it every day. I believe they are the standards we set for ourselves.
“We live in a global sport, one of the most important platforms in the world, and we serve as role models. However, there has been a lot of speculation in recent weeks, as well as a lot of things going on. And I believe that a rigorous approach is necessary at that stage.
“I believe that what Red Bull has started as an independent investigation, if done properly with transparency and rigour, is something that we should look into, what the outcomes are, what it means for Formula One, and what we can learn from it.
“We want to talk about racing cars and the sport, not these very, very serious concerns that affect more than just one team. It’s a problem for the entire Formula One team, and for everyone else who works there.”
Horner will address the media on Thursday during a press conference with fellow team executives.
Since the charges became public, he has already spoken to the media frequently, including at the presentation of Red Bull’s 2024 F1 car.
At the launch, he told ESPN that he is optimistic he would keep his position.
Horner is the only F1 team manager Red Bull has ever had.
He has managed the team through two periods of dominance, one in the early 2010s and the other in the present, with Red Bull winning three consecutive drivers’ championships and two consecutive constructors’ titles heading into 2024.
