Helmut Marko expressed profound surprise and bewilderment following the leakage of an email purportedly containing evidence pertaining to the Christian Horner investigation.
Just a day after Horner was absolved of any misconduct following an inquiry conducted by Red Bull GmbH, he found himself thrust back into the spotlight when the said email surfaced, leading to his prompt exit from the Red Bull pit wall as FP2 concluded.
Despite maintaining silence throughout the investigation, Horner finally broke his silence late Thursday, asserting, “I won’t comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations.”
He reiterated his cooperation with the investigation and respected its integrity, emphasizing his focus on the upcoming season.
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The leak, however, caught fellow Red Bull team members off guard, with Marko expressing, “I’m flabbergasted and surprised that the documents were leaked.
“I’ve never seen them myself.”
While Red Bull GmbH cleared Horner of any wrongdoing, they stated they would not disclose further details, citing confidentiality and respect for all parties involved.
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However, Toto Wolff and Zak Brown advocated for greater transparency in F1 to move past the investigation.
Wolff emphasized the need for transparency, stating, “My personal opinion is we can’t really look at the behind the curtain,” while Brown echoed similar sentiments, stressing the responsibility of the FIA to ensure transparency and thoroughness in reaching conclusions aligned with those of Red Bull.
Both called for transparency from the governing body to quell speculation and ensure the health of the sport, emphasizing the importance of drawing a conclusive line under the matter for the benefit of all involved.