Red Bull has initiated an investigation into Christian Horner, the team principal of its highly successful Formula 1 racing team.
In a statement released on Monday, Red Bull described the investigation of Horner, who also serves as the CEO of Oracle Red Bull Racing, as independent. The company did not disclose the specific reason behind the investigation.
"After becoming aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation. This process, which is already underway, is being conducted by an external specialist barrister," Red Bull stated in the release. "The company takes these matters extremely seriously, and the investigation will be concluded as soon as practically possible. It would not be appropriate to provide further comment at this time."
The statement followed the publication of allegations in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
Horner has denied any wrongdoing, according to reports from international media outlets.
Requests for comment sent to Horner through social media and to a Hollywood agency that represents him as a paid speaker went unanswered. Additionally, Formula 1 did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Red Bull currently holds the title of constructors' champion in the world's premier auto racing series.
In the 2023 season, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen secured his third consecutive drivers' championship, while the team clinched the constructors' title for the second consecutive year. Horner, aged 50, has been at the helm of Red Bull since 2005, garnering a reputation for his strategic prowess and overseeing remarkable success. Under his leadership, the team claimed four drivers' championships with Sebastian Vettel from 2010 to 2013, followed by Verstappen's three successive titles from 2021 to 2023. Throughout his tenure, Red Bull has secured six constructors' championships.
Horner tied the knot with pop star Geri Halliwell of Spice Girls fame in 2015 and was honored with the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire last year.
Formula 1, headquartered in London, has been experiencing growing success in the United States, a market it struggled to penetrate for years. The first race of the 2024 season is set to take place in Bahrain on March 2.
In 2023, the league hosted three races in the U.S., introduced an American driver, and witnessed an increase in domestic viewership. The three U.S. races are scheduled to return this year in Miami, Austin, Texas, and Las Vegas.
ESPN, the broadcaster of the races, reported nearly 1 million viewers on average for each race's domestic television audience in 2021, with a 28% increase in 2023.
Since 2019, the Netflix series "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" has gained global popularity, with Horner prominently featured in the docuseries, portraying his rivalry with other team principals as each season unfolds.