Christian Horner faces fresh calls for transparency from Red Bull partner Honda… as they demand ‘full clarity’ over team principal’s ‘sex texts’ scandal after his charges were suspended due to ‘dishonesty’
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Red Bull Racing’s current engine partner Honda has called for increased transparency in the independent investigation which cleared Christian Horner of wrongdoing called by Red Bull GmbH.
The Japanese company released a statement to the BBC on Thursday evening, saying it looked forward to revealing further ‘clarity’.
Meanwhile, Horner has arrived at the track in Jeddah ahead of Friday’s qualifying session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
“We do not have all the details of the matter at this time,” Honda’s statement reads, “therefore Honda is unable to make any detailed comments.
‘We look forward to full clarity as soon as possible’.
Christian Horner arrived at Jeddah’s Corniche Circuit on Friday after Honda called for ‘full clarity’ in the investigation that cleared him of wrongdoing
The 50-year-old has been at the center of a raging scandal engulfing the sport after he was initially released following the anonymous release of a batch of leaked texts and images allegedly sent by Horner to the female employee , who were involved in the investigation. .
Horner has denied the allegations and stated that he will not comment on ‘anonymous speculation from unknown sources’.
The employee was suspended from her role at Red Bull on Thursday as a direct result of the investigation, with Mail Sport revealing she had been told her evidence was ‘dishonest’.
Red Bull Racing has been partnered with Honda Motor Co since 2019, with the manufacturer supplying the power units to both Red Bull and its sister team RB, after first teaming up with the latter – then called Scuderia Toro Rosso – in 2018.
Honda is not the only team partner to have shared a public statement about the investigation into Horner and its aftermath, with future engine supplier Ford saying in February – while the investigation was ongoing – that they expect ‘high standards of behaviour’.
Horner has worked with Honda at Red Bull since they became their engine supplier in 2019
Mark Rushbrook, Global Head of Ford Performance Motorsport, said: ‘As a family business and one that holds itself to very high standards of conduct and integrity, we expect the same from our partners.
– It seems that we, and what we have been told, is that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously. And of course they are also concerned about their brand.
‘And that’s why they’ve got an independent investigation and until we see what truth comes out of it, it’s too early for us to comment on the whole thing.’
But the company remained silent in the later revelations over the alleged WhatsApps, with Ford refusing to comment when contacted by Mail Sport last Thursday.