15 March 2024 , 08:57
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The woman who accused Christian Horner of inappropriate behaviour is set to appeal the decision to dismiss the grievance she made against him.
Red Bull Racing team principal Horner was accused by a female colleague. And, in early February, the Austria-based parent company announced an investigation into the complaint.
An external KC was hired to look into the matter and, after grilling Horner and weighing up the evidence, presented his findings to the firm. That report has been kept under wraps, but it led to the company clearing Horner of wrongdoing.
It was communicated at the time that she had the right to appeal. After a delay, while she changed her legal team involved with the case, The Telegraph reports she is now ready to exercise that right.
Horner was allowed to continue in his role throughout the investigation into him. His accuser was also working for a time, though she has since been suspended.
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Mirror Sport understands that decision was made over concerns about the evidence she cited in her complaint against Horner. Regardless, an anonymous friend told the Daily Mail she feels "let down" and "disappointed with the treatment from her employer".
The matter has become part of a wider power struggle behind the scenes at Formula 1's dominant team. Horner has some powerful enemies who clearly want him gone, but so far the 50-year-old has stood firm.
Jos Verstappen, father of the team's star driver Max, has been public in his desire to see the back of Horner. And long-serving adviser Helmut Marko, for so many years one of the team principal's closest allies, also wants him gone after the pair fell out.
The Austrian has also been investigated by Red Bull himself. But his position within the company is powerful despite not actually being an employee of the F1 team, thanks to his close alliance with the Verstappens.
Triple world champion Max even declared publicly that he would be willing to walk away from the team should Marko leave. But Horner still has powerful allies of his own, not least majority shareholder Chalerm Yoodivhya who is understood to have told the Dutchman's manager Raymond Vermeulen that the team boss is going nowhere.