Christian Horner may have been acquitted in the case regarding (sexual) misconduct against an employee, but the saga still has the paddock in its grip. For example, the CEO of McLaren and the team boss of Mercedes are demanding more transparency from the motorsport federation FIA and Formula 1.
On Wednesday, Red Bull's head office announced that Horner had been allowed to remain as team boss and had been found innocent in the case involving inappropriate behavior. On Thursday, the fifty-year-old Briton, who has been at the head of Red Bull Racing as team boss since 2005, said he was “happy that the process is now over”.
But that doesn't end the matter. Several prominent figures in the Formula 1 world are left with many unanswered questions, including McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. “There are still a lot of rumors and also a lot of questions,” Brown responded at a press conference in Bahrain. “Those who run this sport have a responsibility to the entire sport and the fans to make it clear that everything has been done clearly and transparently for them. That they come to the same conclusion as Red Bull and they agree with the outcome. Until then there will be speculation and that is not healthy for the sport.”
“Maybe others will be satisfied with that”
Red Bull indicated on Wednesday that the process was “fair and impartial”, something that Visa Cash App Racing Bulls driver (Red Bull's sister team, ed.) Daniel Ricciardo also attached great importance to. Mercedes team boss Wolff has also responded. “I believe that a major sport needs more transparency on such delicate topics. I wonder what the management's view is on the matter. I don't think it should remain vague as it is now. We are outsiders and of course we don't know what exactly is going on. But looking at just a statement… that's not how it should be in the times we live in. Although in Formula 1 we may be in our own bubble and others are satisfied with that.”