Since its introduction to the sport in 2005, Red Rull Racing has been run by Christian Horner as a team principle.
Now his role within the team is in jeopardy after the Formula 1 team launched an investigation into alleged ‘inappropriate behaviour’ towards a colleague.
According to reports in the Netherlands, the Milton Keynes-based team has hired a lawyer and is taking the situation seriously.
A statement from Red Bull Austria – the Austrian energy drinks company that owns the F1 team – confirmed that an investigation was underway. It said: ‘After becoming aware of recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation. This investigation, which is already underway, is being conducted by an external specialized lawyer.
“The company takes these matters very seriously and the investigation will be completed as quickly as possible. It would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this time.”
Christian Horner is ‘under investigation’ by Red Bull for alleged ‘inappropriate behaviour’
Today’s confirmation of the investigation follows 36 hours of denials by the team in Milton Keynes of any alleged wrongdoing. Horner has also described the allegations as ‘crazy’, in a message protesting his innocence to MailOnline.
Horner – famously married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell – dreamed of being in a Formula 1 car when he started his career in the sport.
He earned a Formula Renault scholarship in 1991 and seemed to be on the right track when he competed in the Formula Renault Championship in 1992.
Horner promoted Max Verstappen to Red Bull during the 2016 season, a decision that paid off as the Dutch driver secured his third consecutive drivers’ title in 2023.
As part of Manor Motorsport he would take home a race win and end the year as the highest placed rookie.
Onwards and upwards, it looks like a step up to British Formula Three the following year, a season in which five wins would see them take second place in the overall standings.
In 1996, Horner entered the British Formula 2 Championship before founding the Arden team in 1997 and moving to Formula 3000.
That was where Horners’ career as a driver would ultimately end. The realization that he was ‘unable to match the level of commitment required’ came after following Juan Pablo Montoya through the first corner of Estoril.
When he retired at the age of 25, all was not lost. In fact, the best was yet to come.
In 2004, Arden won the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships very comfortably and with that success, Horner looked for an opportunity to move into F1.
His chance would come when Red Bull took over the Jaguar F1 Team and Dietrich Mateschitz handed over the reins to Arden’s founder.
It was also a strong start for the new team, who opened the season with David Coulthard fourth and his teammate Christian Klien seventh. It was a strong performance from the team as they finished seventh among the constructors at the end of the season.
Christian Horner has led Red Bull to six constructors’ titles
In 2006, the upstart team would pull off their first coup, a move that would put them well on the road to success. Horner and the team signed respected designer Adrian Newey, albeit after the RB2 had been designed for that season.
In 2010, Red Bull had finally climbed to the top of the sport, taking home the double Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships in an exciting final two weeks of the season.
The first of four consecutive races for Red Bull Racing and their German superstar Sebastian Vettel.
There was a break for Horner and the team after a rule change that saw a major shift in the engines used, but they have since built back up and been dominating since the last rule changes in 2021.
Christian Horner and Toto Wolff have clashed several times as their on-track rivalry heated up
Horner and Red Bull have dominated since the introduction of new regulations in 2022
The promising Max Verstappen was assigned a Red Bull seat halfway through the 2016 season, a decision that would prove to be a masterstroke.
The Dutch superstar claimed his third consecutive title during the 2023 season, helping the Red Bull team achieve two more Constructors’ Championships.
A hallmark of Horner’s Formula 1 career is his rivalry with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
The two have often clashed over a range of issues during their time in the sport and in the past have feuded with then race director Michael Masi during the conclusion of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi.
The two even clashed over the new regulations when Toto Wolff sought a change that would benefit Mercedes’ W13, which had been seriously affected by porpoises.
Horner entered Formula 1 as a disruptor and was part of a team looking to break through to the top of the rankings.
Now it remains to be seen what happens next as his place is apparently in serious jeopardy given the current investigation.