Last week, Christian Horner sternly fended off questions from the press about how Formula One had become engulfed in a media storm that has overshadowed the opening races of the season in Bahrain and, this weekend, Saudi Arabia.
The Red Bull team principal has been mired in controversy after allegations of inappropriate and controlling behaviour towards a female colleague became public earlier this month. After an internal investigation dismissed the grievance, a dossier of Horner’s alleged WhatsApp messages to the woman were leaked, and then on Thursday the team suspended the complainant.
The furore has raised questions about the power dynamics inside Red Bull and whether the allegations have been appropriately handled. One question being asked by fans is whether the decision by the team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, to hire a KC to conduct the internal inquiry made it truly independent.
Horner has strenuously denied the allegations and has refused to comment on the leaked WhatsApp messages. With speculation in the paddock that a second tranche of messages is about to be leaked, it’s easy to see why the decision by Red Bull to suspend the woman, on the eve of International Women’s Day, poured more fuel on the fire.
Formula One has tried to move away from the male-dominated image of seasons past, where female involvement was confined to their being “grid girls” and objectified as eye candy. Since Liberty Media acquired F1 in 2016, it has pledged to increase diversity and opportunity with the #WeRaceAsOne initiative.
The strides made since have been laudable: with the creation of an all-female F1 Academy series, which launched its second season this weekend, the sport is aiming to help women wanting to get into motor racing and ultimately into F1. But why would female drivers push for an F1 seat, given recent events?
A visibly frustrated Horner stressed in his press conference on Thursday the need to “move on” and “look forward” several times.
He was asked if he recognised the need for transparency, specifically for female fans, who make up 40% of the sport’s fanbase and who are probably looking for assurance that it is a positive place to be.
“Well, I think it’s a complicated issue, because within any company there is a grievance process,” he said. “And that is private between the individuals. Even if I would like to talk about it, I can’t, due to confidentiality restrictions.”
Horner instead took aim at those who “looked to take advantage” of Red Bull’s situation. “Unfortunately, Formula One is a competitive business. There’s been obviously elements looking to benefit from it. That’s perhaps the not so pretty side of our industry.”
Horner said the allegations had taken an emotional toll . “The only reason it has gained so much attention is because of leakage in the media,” he said. “And that’s been trying, particularly for my family, because it’s all been focused in one direction.”
There is no indication of an end to the saga, which some drivers have disappointingly labelled a “noise” and a “distraction”. At the centre, however, is a woman who is not allowed to speak (as is commonplace in investigations) and is ultimately seen as being suspended from her job after raising abuse allegations. For a sport that seeks to create inclusivity for women, this is a moment when it needs to examine its standards.
The leak of alleged evidence of abusive behaviour has similarities to the Mason Greenwood case at Manchester United last year, although of a different level of severity.
After allegations of abusive behaviour by Greenwood were published online, and the Crown Prosecution Service decided to drop rape charges against the player, the club conducted its own investigation. What followed was an inept and drawn-out inquiry that hoped to reinstate the player, only to create a public backlash that forced club and Greenwood to go their separate ways.
Not only was the reputation of Manchester United damaged, so was the sport’s commitment to making football a safe place for women. Serious questions were asked at the time about the capacity of any club to conduct an internal investigation into allegations of abuse.
Formula One is now being asked the same questions and given the same opportunity to show its commitment to female fans and employees of the sport. So far the FIA, the sport’s governing body, has limited its comments on the allegations, saying only that they are “damaging the sport” and that it is not planning to investigate Horner.
Formula One TV channel presenter Laura Winter’s brave report on International Women’s Day about her experiences in the sport brought what women have achieved in Formula One, and how the Red Bull controversy affects that, into sharper focus. “International Women’s Day is difficult for me – on this day I was attacked and escaped an abusive relationship,” Winter said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Winter continued: “After recent news stories and headlines, it has not been easy to be a woman working in Formula One.” But she added: “I’m personally very proud to be standing here as a woman working in motorsport, a woman working in Formula One.”
Now the sport must rise to the challenge: to provide transparency and a serious commitment to women’s inclusivity and safety.
David Challen is an adviser to the domestic abuse commissioner of England and Wales and an ambassador for the Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse
