FIA unable to verify receipt of complaints, statement declares

The FIA released a statement on Saturday stating that they cannot verify the receipt of complaints or the individuals involved, following reports that an employee linked to Christian Horner’s investigation at Red Bull had lodged a complaint with the regulatory body. Prior to the start of the Formula 1 season in Bahrain, Horner was cleared of the allegations made by the employee after a review conducted by an external lawyer. The complainant had the opportunity to appeal and chose to do so while on suspension with pay. According to BBC Sport, the female complainant had previously filed complaints with the FIA on two occasions. The first complaint was made on February 2 to the FIA’s ethics and compliance hotline, directly mentioning the alleged mistreatment of an employee by Horner. A second complaint was made on March 6, referencing the first complaint and threatening to disclose information to the media by a whistleblower. In response to these reports, the Formula 1 regulatory body stated that all investigations and complaints are handled by the Compliance Officer and the Ethics Committee, ensuring strict confidentiality throughout the process. Consequently, they cannot confirm the receipt of any specific complaint and are unlikely to provide further comments on any complaints received from any party.