Toto Wolff delivers cutting verdict after Red Bull clear Christian Horner of misconduct - 'Basic'

Toto Wolff delivers cutting verdict after Red Bull clear Christian Horner of misconduct - 'Basic'

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Christian Horner cleared of misconduct by Red Bull and Toto Wolff reacts

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 29/02/2024

- 14:39

Updated: 29/02/2024

- 15:26

The Austrian was speaking ahead of the new F1 season

Toto Wolff has brutally branded Red Bull's statement on Christian Horner 'basic' after the 50-year-old was cleared of inappropriate behaviour on Wednesday.

Horner always denied the claims and a statement from Red Bull confirmed he had been cleared.


They said: "The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.

"The complainant has a right of appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial.

Toto Wolff Christian Horner

Toto Wolff has blasted Red Bull's statement on Christian Horner

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"The complainant has a right of appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial.

"The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and therefore we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned.

"Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards."

Yet Wolff has now condemned Red Bull, dubbing their statement 'basic' and criticising their decision to keep details private.

“Basic,” Wolff said when asked his opinion on the statement. “My personal opinion is we we can’t really look at behind the curtain.

“At the end of the day there is a lady in an organisation that has that has spoken to HR and said there is an issue and it was investigated.

“And yesterday, the sport received a message, ‘It’s all fine. We’ve looked at it,’ and I believe that with desperation, as a global sport, on such critical topics it needs more transparency.

“And I wonder where the sport is? What the sports position is.

"We are competitors. We are team and we can have our own personal opinions or not, but it’s more like a general reaction or action that we as a sport we need to assess what is right in that situation and what is wrong.”

He added: “I just simply think that as a sport we cannot afford to leave things vague and opaque on critical topics like this because it's going to catch us out eventually.

“We are in a super transparent world, things are gonna happen and I think the organisation has a duty to say, ‘Well, we’ve looked at it and here’s where it’s okay,’ and then we can move on.

“I think it’s sometimes very short-sighted to try to suppress it but I’m not saying this has happened.

"We’re standing from the outside and looking at it through just statements or press releases.

“It just seems that it’s not as modern as things go in this world, in the real world out there, but maybe in F1 we just have a little bubble and we think we think that’s okay.”

Horner is relieved the investigation is now over.

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Christian Horner Red Bull

Christian Horner was cleared of inappropriate behaviour by Red Bull on Wednesday

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The Red Bull chief is set to focus on racing matters from now on, with the start of the new F1 season just days away.

Red Bull saw Max Verstappen dominate the sport last term, winning 19 of 22 races to secure a third title on the trot.

And Horner insists the team has never been 'stronger'.

Toto Wolff Christian Horner

Toto Wolff and Christian Horner have long had a fierce rivalry within F1

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"We're here now very much to focus on the grand prix and the season ahead and trying to defend both of our titles," Horner told Sky Sports.

"I am pleased the process is over but I obviously can't comment about it."

He added: "Within the team it has never been stronger."

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