JONATHAN NOBLE
FORMULA 1 The CEO of the Ford Motor Company has written to Red Bull to make plain the manufacturer’s dissatisfaction over the time taken to conduct an investigation into allegations made against Formula 1 team principal Christian Horner by a female employee. A decision on Horner’s future was due imminently as Autosport closed for press on Tuesday.
Ford will help Red Bull develop the new-specification powertrain that will debut for the 2026 season, although its marketing strategy around competing in the championship has already whirred into life. According to reports by the Associated Press, boss Jim Farley has written to Red Bull GmbH to urge the energy drinks company to come to a resolution. He writes that Ford is “increasingly frustrated by the lack of resolution or clear indication from you about when you anticipate a fair and just resolution of this matter. We are likewise frustrated by the lack of full transparency surrounding this matter with us, your corporate partners, and look forward to receiving a complete account of all findings.” Farley demanded that Red Bull give “prompt and serious attention” to the matter.
Farley said that Ford, as a family-owned company, was not happy with how it felt things were proceeding, and expressed displeasure that previous requests for greater transparency over the matter had been ignored. In the letter he added: “As we have indicated previously, without satisfactory response, Ford’s values are nonnegotiable. It is
