01 AN UNCIVIL WAR BREAKS OUT FOR RED BULL’S REINS
The start of the new F1 season has clearly shown that the winter wasn’t enough for Red Bull’s rivals to catch up and establish a challenge to the dominant force. The team itself, however, seems to be doing everything possible to destroy itself from within. Over first few months of the new year a scarcely credible civil war has unfolded within the camp.
There is every reason to believe the spark that eventually ignited the flames came back in December, when a grievance filed by one of Red Bull Racing’s female employees against her boss, Christian Horner, reached the human resources department at the energy drink manufacturer’s headquarters in Austria. In early February the details of the dispute, which at the time appeared to be internal, emerged. One of the largest Dutch newspapers, De Telegraaf, reported the fact of an investigation, backed up by confirmation from Red Bull GmbH. The article described the allegations against Horner as those of inappropriate conduct.
Shortly after the launch of the RB20, it was again De Telegraaf – whose journalist Erik van Haren is known in the paddock for his close ties to Max Verstappen – which reported sexual misconduct may have been the basis of the complaint.
Red Bull Racing hired an independent barrister to conduct an internal investigation, which was completed before the start of the season. In the meantime, Horner attended preseason testing and was part of an official F1 press conference. Throughout the investigation, he consistently denied any wrongdoing.
On the eve of the season opener in Bahrain, Red Bull announced that the grievance had been dismissed. But that wasn’t the end of it. The following day accredited journalists as well as team principals and chiefs of the FIA and FOM, received anonymous emails containing alleged evidence in the form of screenshots and photographs.
It was by now clear the issue went beyond an HR grievance procedure. The pattern of leaks and briefings suggested a war for control of the team itself was playing out in which certain forces were seeking to limit Horner’s influence or remove him.
Horner withstood the attack and appeared in the paddock on race day, accompanied by his wife Geri. But if the intention of this was to convey a sense of business as usual, it didn’t last long despite the team’s victory. Two newspapers carried quotes from Max Verstappen’s father Jos, making it clear that if there were indeed two camps within the team –
