Christian Horner was picked up in the dark from his luxurious London home and faced intense scrutiny all day for alleged “inappropriate behavior”…but with the new season looming, this is Red Bull It’s a race against time!

• Christian Horner accused of ‘controlling’ behavior by colleagues
• The Red Bull boss, 50, faced intense scrutiny all day Friday over the allegations.
• With the new season just around the corner, Red Bull needs to make a decision soon

Christian Horner left his luxurious home in Highgate, north London, on Friday to embark on the fight of his life.

Having just departed at 7am, it was still dark when the Red Bull team principal got into a black BMW saloon and headed to a secret venue in the capital to address claims by a female employee that he behaved in a coercive manner towards her. I made an argument.

Although he denies all charges, he had to make his case to KC, who was assigned by the team to look into the matter as an internal investigator.

A variety of media flocked to the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes for the summit. They were to be disappointed.

As we reported on Friday, the meeting was scheduled to take place in a neutral venue, likely the lawyer’s office.

The interrogation began at 8:45 a.m. and continued throughout the day. No decision was made on Friday night, but multiple sources say they hope to have a conclusion before the new car goes on sale on Thursday.

Horner has not spoken publicly since the hearing. Other insiders familiar with the matter believe the issue will linger in a case of “he says, she says, he says.”

“It’s going to take some time,” said one F1 official. “This is the first time they’ve spoken to Christian to get his perspective on this matter, and they need to seek answers from the woman in question. It may take some back and forth to get a resolution.” I don’t know.”

There is certainly a desire within Red Bull to resolve the dispute before the season kicks off in Bahrain on March 2nd.

Neither Red Bull Racing, which secured Verstappen’s 19 wins last year to secure his third world championship appearance, nor parent company Red Bull GmBH, which is conducting the investigation, would elaborate on Friday’s findings.

Horner, 50, husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, is determined to continue in the role, having held the role for 19 years and won 13 drivers’ and constructors’ world titles during that time.

A Red Bull GmBH spokesperson said on Monday: “After becoming aware of certain recent allegations, the company has launched an independent investigation.”

He added: “We take this matter extremely seriously.”

In response to the allegations, Mr Horner said: “I completely deny the allegations.”

Red Bull said in a statement: “Having become aware of certain recent allegations, the company has launched an independent investigation.” This process is carried out by external specialist lawyers.

“The investigation is expected to be completed as soon as possible. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Mr Horner’s supporters claim he is a pawn in a broader power struggle within the organization. In the vacuum created after the death of his key ally, energy drink mogul Dietrich Mateschitz, who founded the company and died in October 2022.

Horner has been a central figure in F1 life for more than 20 years and is an ardent ally of Bernie Ecclestone, once the sport’s chief executive and still a hugely important figure in any conflict.

Horner is a link to the sport’s tradition and still enjoys the support of Ecclestone. Horner is confident he can maintain his position. Some sports people doubt this.

But it has always been a tribal business, a hate party based on rivals’ egos.