In a significant turn of events, the individual who levelled allegations against Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has been placed on suspension. This development follows Horner being cleared of charges by an independent inquiry into the accusations of "inappropriate behaviour" tied to his role within the team, according to several media outlets.
Horner, aged 50, was permitted to maintain his position at the forefront of Red Bull Racing after the company's parent entity, GmbH, announced last Wednesday that the complaints lodged against him were unfounded. It has come to light that the accuser, a member of the team based in Milton Keynes, has been suspended but will continue to receive full salary during this period.
As per the Guardian, in response to inquiries about the situation, a spokesperson from Red Bull Racing stated, "We are unable to comment as it is an internal matter." Horner, who has steadfastly refuted the allegations from the start, is slated to re-enter the public eye during an official FIA press conference scheduled for 6.30pm local time (3.30pm GMT) in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Horner expressed his unwavering confidence last weekend, following the season's inaugural race in Bahrain, in his continued leadership over Red Bull for the season's duration.
It has been revealed that the suspension of the staff member, who reportedly reported to work as recently as Monday, comes as a direct consequence of Red Bull's investigation, which resulted in the dismissal of the claims against Horner. The implicated employee was reportedly issued a legal notice at the start of this week and has been given a five-day window to contest the findings of the probe.
Watch: Saudi Arabian female racer Reem Al Aboud breaks world record in Formula E car