Despite Horner vehemently denying the accusation, a verdict on the investigation is expected to be revealed this week, which could lead to the departure of the longest-serving team principal on the grid.
Martin Brundle has raised concerns about possible “issues” at Red Bull if Christian Horner is dismissed amid the ongoing investigation.
The position of Red Bull team principal is in jeopardy following a complaint of misconduct made by an employee to parent company Red Bull GmbH.
Although Horner vehemently denies the accusation, a decision on the investigation is expected to be announced this week, potentially resulting in the departure of the longest-serving team principal on the grid.
So far, business operations have continued as usual, with Horner attending the RB20 car launch in Milton Keynes and pre-season testing.
However, there is an air of uncertainty hanging over the reigning world champions.
Brundle, who is also present in Bahrain for the opening race of the new season, believes that the team’s uncertainty predates Horner’s investigation and was triggered by the death of co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz.
I think the problem that Red Bull faces is that Dietrich Mateschitz had the final say in any major decision,” Brundle told Sky Sports.
“And they followed him. He said jump, they asked how high.
So, from that point in 2022, we’ve already seen some disruptions, let’s call them, within the team.”
If Horner were to leave the team, it would mark another significant loss of continuity, as the 50-year-old Briton has been with the team since its foundation in 2005.
Brundle noted that while the immediate future appears secure, there may be challenges ahead.
“Obviously, if you remove Christian from that equation, other factors will fill the void, won’t they?” Brundle stated.
“And although it may not have the same impact as Mateschitz’s death, they have momentum and they have Max Verstappen.
So, I wouldn’t be too concerned about their immediate performance.
But in the long term, it will certainly present some challenges.”
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Horner has consistently denied the allegations, but Craig Slater, Brundle’s colleague at Sky, suggested that a decision could be made as early as Wednesday (February 28th).
According to Sky Sports, the extensive investigation is being reviewed by the board of Red Bull GmbH at the company’s headquarters in Salzburg, Austria.
Reports claim that the report is over 100 pages long and includes testimonies from the individuals involved.
Any communication from Red Bull’s parent company is likely to not disclose significant details about the allegations to protect the confidentiality of the individuals involved.
