F1 cannot – and should not – simply ‘move on’ under the cloud of controversy

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JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Christian Horner believes it is time to “move on” and put the focus back on Formula 1 on-track action, saying this is “the place where the spotlight should be to stand.”

But amid the ongoing aftermath of the allegations against the Red Bull Racing team boss of inappropriate behavior and further off-track controversy over the FIA, the sport remains under a cloud.

Horner was speaking at the FIA ​​press conference ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Thursday, just hours after it emerged that Red Bull Racing had suspended pay for the female complainant who made the allegations.

The complaint against Horner was dismissed following an investigation conducted by a King’s Counsel (KC), an independent investigator. According to a person briefed on the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity, the complainant’s suspension is related to the findings of the investigation.

Requested by The Athletics Regarding the suspension, Horner said he “cannot comment on anything confidential between an employee and a company.”

The “move on” comment came during a 30-minute press conference dominated by questions to Horner, who said: “Now is the time to look ahead and draw a line under it.” He said it was a “very difficult” period for him and his family, who he said needed to put an end to the “burglary”. (Horner’s marriage to Geri Halliwell-Horner, a former member of the Spice Girls, has led to increased media attention, especially in Britain.)

Horner acknowledged that a series of anonymously leaked messages, allegedly sent between him and the complainant, that emerged last week had “gained a lot of attention.” (Last week he declined to comment on what he called “anonymous, speculative reports from an unknown source.”)

“It’s all very much in one direction,” Horner said. “What happened next is that others tried to take advantage of that. Unfortunately Formula 1 is a competitive business and it seems elements have taken advantage of that. That is perhaps the less attractive side of our industry.”

A recurring question on the matter focused on Red Bull’s lack of transparency and detail, something highlighted last week by two of Horner’s rival F1 team bosses, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and McLaren’s Zak Brown. “I believe that as a global sport strives to address such crucial issues, more transparency is needed,” Wolff said. “I wonder what the position of the sport is.”

Announcing the outcome of the investigation, Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of Red Bull Racing, said the report was “confidential” and that it “would not comment further out of respect for all involved.” It means that details of the allegations and the grounds on which the complaint was dismissed remain unknown.

Horner emphasized that confidentiality when asked about the need for transparency, especially given the subject in an era when F1 has pushed for improved inclusivity and has seen an influx of new, young female fans.

Horner called it a “complicated issue” before noting that it was an internal matter at Red Bull and that the process was “confidential between the individuals and the company itself.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have the freedom, because of that confidentiality, and out of respect for the company and of course the other party, that we are all subject to the same restrictions,” Horner said. “So even if I wanted to talk about it, I can’t because of those confidentiality restrictions.”

He said it was “not an FIA problem” and “not a Formula 1 problem” but a “company-employee problem, and that would be the same in any large organisation.”

The FIA, F1’s regulator, has shown no sign of involvement in the matter. While FIA ​​president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told the Financial Times in Bahrain last week that this situation was “damaging the sport”, he also said he did not want to “walk the talk” and initiate some investigation through compliance – or FIA ethics. department.

Thursday, when The Athletics approached the FIA ​​for comment on Red Bull’s decision. A spokesperson said they were surprised to be asked about what they called “a team employment issue” and suggested instead that F1 be contacted. A spokesperson for F1 itself declined to comment.

The FIA, meanwhile, has its own problems. The compliance department is investigating the president, Ben Sulayem, following allegations that he meddled in the outcome of last year’s Saudi Arabian GP, ​​as first reported by BBC Sport. The FIA ​​said it had “received a report detailing possible allegations involving certain members of its governing bodies” and that it was “assessing the concerns”.

BBC Sport subsequently reported that Ben Sulayem was also under investigation because he allegedly wanted to prevent the certification of the circuit in Las Vegas. An FIA spokesperson said that “from a sporting and safety perspective, the approval of the Las Vegas circuit followed FIA protocol in terms of inspection and certification. “If you recall, there was a delay in making the circuit available for inspection due to ongoing construction work by the local organiser.” The same spokesperson also highlighted an interview Ben Sulayem gave to GP Racing magazine last November, in which he expressed his support for green-lighting the track layout in Las Vegas.

All four team leaders at Thursday’s press conference – Horner and Krack were joined by Williams’ James Vowles and Alpine’s Bruno Famin – were asked about the investigation into the FIA ​​president. Famin said we have to focus on what’s happening on the track. Krack said that from Aston Martin’s point of view the matter was “clear and concluded”. Vowles said he was glad a process had been put in place, and “as I understand it, it is being reviewed, which is the right thing.”

The investigation marks the latest in a long line of controversies involving the FIA ​​president. But Horner urged people not to “get ahead of the facts”.

“There needs to be an investigation,” Horner said. “And I am sure that the relevant parties, and here again the process they have within the FIA ​​statutes, will be followed.

“The only thing I want to encourage is: don’t judge ahead of time. Wait for the facts. First wait to see what the reality is before you come to a judgement.”

As much as Horner wants the focus in F1 to be on ‘getting on the track and going racing’, the ongoing unrest is having a bad reflection on the sport. There is no escape from that. Over the past three weeks we have not only reached the back page of the newspapers, but also the front pages. People talk about F1 for reasons the sport doesn’t want.

“It definitely doesn’t look good to the outside world, from the outside looking in,” Lewis Hamilton said on Wednesday. “It is a very, very important moment for the sport to demonstrate and uphold their values ​​and hold ourselves accountable for our actions.” He called it a “really, really pivotal moment” for F1, because of the message it sends to the rest of the world.

“I hope it doesn’t become a year where this continues,” Hamilton said. “It highlights some of the issues we have in sport too, when we talk about diversity and inclusivity, which includes gender, for example, and it’s crucial that people feel comfortable in this environment. And that is clearly not the case.”

Horner is right when he says that the on-track action is “the place where the spotlight should be” for F1. But as long as these questions and doubts persist, the spotlight will remain elsewhere.

(Main photo of Christian Horner and Mohammed Ben Sulayem during the Formula 1 Bahrain GP: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP))