Red Bull GmbH, in its entirety, has initiated an investigation into Christian Horner, who has undergone extensive questioning by an independent barrister tasked with gathering evidence pertaining to unspecified allegations.
During the unveiling of the RB20, Horner acknowledged that the issue had caused some distraction. Despite addressing the matter lightly, the media was advised not to delve too deeply into it.
On the second day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Horner, as the principal of the Red Bull F1 team, faced his inaugural official F1 press conference. This conference was streamed live to remote media, while journalists on-site were not briefed on permissible questions beforehand.
Initially discussing the RB20’s performance, particularly Max Verstappen’s impressive showing on the first testing day, Horner was later questioned about the relationship between the main Red Bull team and its sister RB squad.
These inquiries arise against a backdrop of concerns from rivals, notably voiced by McLaren team boss Zak Brown, regarding the implications of a single entity owning two competing teams within the same league. Questions revolve around the potential advantages of operating efficiently under a cost cap.
Horner spoke at length for three minutes and 37 seconds, addressing these concerns.
Directly questioned about the ongoing investigation, Horner declined to provide substantive comments, citing his involvement in the process.
Pressed further on whether the matter continued to be a distraction, in light of his earlier acknowledgment during the Red Bull team launch, as well as F1’s call for prompt resolution following a fair and thorough process, Horner maintained his stance of non-comment.
He emphasized the desire for a swift conclusion, aligning with the wishes of F1 and the FIA, while acknowledging that Red Bull partner Ford was also monitoring the situation closely.
Horner refrained from offering direct responses to previously discussed topics. The 20-minute press conference concluded with a query about the team’s performance after the first day of testing and a reflection on Horner’s reaction to the technical team’s proposals for the RB20, which signifies a significant departure from its dominant predecessor.