SAKHIR, Bahrain — Christian Horner remained defiant about his future at Pink Bull after per week of ongoing controversy about his inner misconduct listening to with the corporate.
On Wednesday, Pink Bull GmbH dismissed a grievance of inappropriate behaviour made about Horner by a feminine member of the F1 crew, although she will be able to enchantment the choice.
The day after the decision, recordsdata purportedly associated to the case had been leaked to the media and each crew within the F1 paddock.
Horner has remained steadfast in persevering with within the job he has held since 2005 and, hours after Max Verstappen kicked off Pink Bull’s season in dominant vogue with a win in Bahrain, stated he considers the matter resolved.
“100%,” Horner advised reporters when requested if he feels vindicated by the result of the investigation. “There was a full, prolonged inner course of that was accomplished by an unbiased KC. And the grievance that was raised was dismissed. Finish of. Transfer on.
“I’ve at all times been fully assured that I might be right here. And my focus is on the season forward and the races we’ve forward. What individuals select to write down is as much as them. However my focus popping out of this weekend is on the following race in seven days’ time in Saudi Arabia.”
Horner and spouse Geri, previously Ginger Spice of the Spice Women, walked hand in hand down the paddock an hour and a half earlier than the race, then embraced in entrance of the cameras in a present of solidarity.
Earlier than the race, Horner additionally was seen chatting to and posing for pictures with Chalerm Yoovidhya, 51% proprietor of Pink Bull GmbH.
“I’ve had super help from throughout the crew and throughout the firm,” Horner stated on Saturday night. “So, sure, it was a day about going racing, in regards to the begin of the season and about beginning the season in the absolute best means.
“The drivers did brilliantly, the crew did brilliantly, and yeah it was the absolute best begin for the crew, for our companions, for our shareholders and everyone throughout the group.”
He added: “Clearly it is not been nice, the undesirable consideration.”
Forward of the race, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated the Horner state of affairs was “damaging” to System One.
There’s rising strain on the governing physique or F1 to research the matter themselves.
Requested if he was certain he can be in his function all yr, Horner stated, “Completely.”
The leaks of Thursday night time got here from an unverified electronic mail account and Horner refused to be drawn on both the authenticity of the messages throughout the leak or the place the leak got here from. The authenticity of the recordsdata has not been verified by ESPN.
“I am not going to touch upon nameless, speculative messages from an unknown supply,” he stated.
When pressed to remark, he stated, “I am not going to touch upon what motives, no matter particular person could have for doing this. My focus is on this crew, my household, my spouse and going racing.
“I’ve the help of an unimaginable household, of an unimaginable spouse, of an unimaginable crew and everyone inside that crew, and my focus is on going racing and successful races and doing the very best that I can.”