Horner Complainant's Appeal Dismissed

The appeal of the woman who lodged a complaint against Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been dismissed. She initially filed her complaint in December, alleging coercive and abusive behavior, as well as sexual harassment by Horner, 50.

Following an internal investigation conducted by an independent lawyer, Red Bull cleared Horner in February. Horner has consistently denied any wrongdoing. An additional independent lawyer has now concluded that the appeal against the investigation's decision was not upheld.

In a statement, Red Bull announced that it had "accepted and adopted" the conclusions of the investigating lawyer, while emphasizing, "The company respects the privacy of all its employees and will not be making further public comment on this matter at this time."

Since March, the complainant has been suspended by Red Bull, with reports indicating she was suspended due to claims of dishonesty. Red Bull's latest statement did not address her current employment status.

Since the investigation became public in early February, Red Bull has refrained from providing further details about the case, citing confidentiality.

On the day following the dismissal of the complaint, a series of messages purportedly involving Horner were leaked to nearly 150 senior Formula 1 personnel and media outlets. Horner characterized the leak as "anonymous, speculative messages from an unknown source" and declined to comment on their contents.

In related news, Red Bull's design chief Adrian Newey announced he would depart the team in early 2025, expressing his desire to leave amid the ongoing controversy.

The 2024 Formula 1 season is set to resume with the Dutch Grand Prix on August 23, after the summer break. Red Bull's Max Verstappen currently leads the drivers' championship, pursuing his fourth consecutive title.