Christian Horner to attend Red Bull car launch amid investigation

Christian Horner will be at Red Bull’s car launch, despite the ongoing investigation into allegations against him, which he denies.

Horner attended his team’s shakedown of their F1 2024 car, the RB20, at Silverstone on Tuesday.

And, significantly, he is set to be present on Thursday at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes headquarters when the media are welcomed for the official launch of the RB20.

Horner has denied allegations of controlling behaviour from a female colleague and was questioned by an independent lawyer last Friday, but no verdict has yet been issued.

“He’s under investigation. He is continuing in his job,” Sky’s Craig Slater updated.

“It’s business as usual, that’s the message that I am getting from Red Bull Racing.

“He has been in the factory for the last few days.

“He [was] at the Silverstone Circuit [on Tuesday] where the car is having its shakedown.

“He is carrying out his duties as team principal and chief executive.

“I also expect him to present at the launch of the team’s car on Thursday.

“The key point to make is that we have to separate what’s going on with the F1 team and the F1 schedule, with the season drawing close, and this investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

“We understand a female member of staff has made them about controlling and coercive behaviour which Horner denies.

“That will follow its own timescale. I have been reporting consistently that it could take weeks and could stretch into the Formula 1 season before that investigation is concluded.

“I’ve heard nothing to change that potential timescale.”

Initially Red Bull hoped to make a decision in Horner’s investigation before launching their car on Thursday, but that will no longer happen.

Red Bull GmBH, the F1 team’s parent company, said last week: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation.

“The company takes these matters extremely seriously.”

Horner has said: “I completely deny the claims.”

The F1 team have said: “Having being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation. This process is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.

“The investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”

Supporters of Horner believe he is “a pawn in a wider power struggle” at Red Bull, the Daily Mail report.

Horner still counts the influential Bernie Ecclestone as an “ally”, the report states, and he believes he can retain his job as team principal and chief executive of Red Bull Racing.

But other F1 insiders think he might not cling on, the newspaper reports.