Christian Horner's accuser feels 'angry, scared, and intimidated
A family friend sheds light on the complainant's struggles in the Christian Horner controversy, revealing her distress over Red Bull's handling of the allegations against their team principal.
The complaint and allegations
In December, a woman lodged a complaint against Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner, containing allegations of coercive, abusive behavior and sexual harassment.
Horner has consistently denied these claims. Following an internal investigation, Red Bull dismissed the complaint on February 28th, clearing Horner of any wrongdoing.
The complainant's perspective
According to a family friend speaking to BBC the complainant is
"very upset, angry, scared, intimidated, and lonely"
in the aftermath of Red Bull's decision.
Bound by a legal undertaking, she is unable to discuss the matter with anyone except her father and brother, leaving her feeling isolated and unheard.
The friend stated,
"She breaks down in tears and says she's got no-one to talk to because she's not allowed to talk."
The complainant is reportedly struggling to understand how Red Bull dismissed her complaint after their investigation.
The leaked messages
A day after the complaint's dismissal, a cache of messages purportedly involving Horner was leaked to nearly 150 senior F1 personnel and media.
While Horner has described them as "anonymous, speculative messages from an unknown source," the friend claims they are genuine exchanges between Horner and the complainant.
The friend questioned Horner's refusal to confirm the messages' authenticity, stating,
"If this has been a fair and independent process and there has been no wrongdoing found, then why isn't that being brought forward in a transparent way, and why isn't Christian denying that those WhatsApps are real?"
The appeal process
The complainant has appealed against Red Bull's decision and has made F1's governing body, the FIA, aware of the situation, requesting an investigation.
The friend revealed that the case is registered for an employment tribunal, which will be public unless Horner attempts to keep it private.
The friend added,
"She has now been suspended, and it's clear that's Red Bull following a process to eventually fire her."
However, a Red Bull spokesperson denied this claim.
The complainant's determination
Despite the challenges, the friend emphasized the complainant's determination for the truth to emerge, stating,
"She just wants to work in the sport and is very concerned about her reputation and ability to get hired by anyone."
The friend expressed concern over the complainant's inability to communicate openly with friends and family due to the terms and conditions placed upon her, while Horner has been able to share his perspective from a "position of power and influence."
Comments ()