Christian Horner under Investigation

[mendis]

It is interesting to see how jet again missinformation leaked by the media. It was not a sexual harassment, but the employee was supposedly under too much pressure and control from Horner.... Remember kids, never trust majority of journslists, because they go only for clicks and not for the truth. Truth can come later, after lies make enough damage...

Isn't that a job for HR to sort out? What's with the external lawyers? Should someone's job be on the line for that? Have there being multiple reports by staff of such behaviour? F1 after all, is a high pressure job, probably at any operational level. The early reports stated inappropriate behaviour of a controlling nature, that was used in the BBC article. The allegation is being made by a female staff, so a lot of people are filling in the blanks based on the information available. It is a bizarre situation, but the controlling nature thing could suggest that her job or career progression was being threatened.

That information is not confirmed or cleared. All that is known at this point is, there is an investigation against Horner.

To manage any kind of harassment at work place, in many countries, the law requires that the organizations are required to form a harassment redressal committee, constituting a set of internal employees (potentially all in management in different functions, including HR), also including an external lawyer to provide unbiased legal direction in the matters as dictated by the local laws. So it's not surprising that there is a lawyer (or law firm) part of this investigation.

This is what I found from ChatGPT, which is more relevant to this case.

When a harassment complaint involves an employee of a subsidiary company located in a different country than the parent company, the situation becomes more complex due to jurisdictional differences and legal considerations. In such cases, the parent company may still have a role in addressing the issue, but the investigation process would likely need to be conducted in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country where the subsidiary is located.

Several factors come into play in this scenario:

Jurisdictional Differences: Employment laws, regulations, and procedures vary from one country to another. The parent company would need to navigate the legal framework of the subsidiary's country when conducting an investigation.

Legal and Compliance Considerations: The parent company must ensure that its actions comply with the local laws of the subsidiary's country. This may involve working with legal counsel familiar with the employment laws in that jurisdiction.

Coordination with Local Authorities: Depending on the severity of the allegations and the legal requirements of the subsidiary's country, it may be necessary for the parent company to coordinate with local authorities or agencies.

Cross-Border Data Protection: If the investigation involves the processing of personal data, the parent company needs to consider cross-border data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union.

Communication and Cultural Sensitivity: When conducting an investigation in a different country, cultural differences and communication styles should be taken into account to ensure a fair and effective process.

Given these complexities, it is advisable for the parent company to work closely with legal experts in both its home country and the subsidiary's country to navigate the investigation process appropriately. Additionally, the subsidiary's own policies and procedures for handling such matters should be considered and followed, and the involvement of local HR professionals may be crucial in understanding and respecting the local context.

[koolway]

Why external lawyers?

The only statement HR can make is : Did he comply to their internal policies? They cannot state on the legality and precedents of these alleged "actions".
And of course, determine if those supposed actions have enough evidences to backup any truth.
Another thing is to make it independent from internal affairs.

If anything would be ruled against him, CH have the financial means and time to hire lawyers in order to fight any negative decisions ruled against him.
So better make it as sound as possible from the start (if the investigation conclusions are that way)

[f1jcw]

HR also works for the benefit of the company not the employee, people seem to forget that.

[Shakeman]

And RB would leak it to this guy why? Seems more like Jos leaked it to me.

But again, at some point we’ll know more, right now to me it makes no sense.

The Youtubers are certainly running with the Horner vs Verstappen/Marko angle and any leak coming from that camp. If true it seems like a self defeating strategy to upend the apple cart. Apparently RBR isn't Verstappen's team enough right now.

Of course leaking the story is not in RB GmbH's interest and does nothing for their brand but if you hold a grudge and wanted to publicly weaken someone a leak to the press would do it. Without the leak we may never have known about the story, it could've been investigated, Horner found innocent, NDAs signed and no one would've been the wiser.

Leaking the story changes everything, now Horner is being tried in the court of public opinion, there's no smoke without fire insinuations spreading on social media, what people don't know they're making up to fill in the gaps until someone who has been found guilty of nothing is now fighting for their career. Even if found not guilty Horner's name has been dragged through the mud and mud sticks and he may find his job untenable due to the insidious cancel culture and corporations running scared of it.

If Horner survives then I would think the leaker, if there was one, might find their strategy blows up in their face.

[Shakeman]

Why external lawyers?

It's to give an appropriate distance between the company and the investigation. The last thing RB GmbH want are insinuations of white washing.

[koolway]

I should have put that in quote regarding all the occurences of that question above, my comment was a reply to that question

[Wouter]

Erik van Haren, the Dutch journalist, heard rumors about Horner since the Hahnenkamm Rennen. Oliver Mintzlaff was there,
Toto Wollf and Zak Brown were there but Horner was not.
Since then, Van Haren has called around a lot and the rumors became stronger and stronger.
Last Friday he called the top boss at RB GmbH Mintzlaff and told his story. A few hours later he was told that it was all correct and that an investigation into Horner was already underway by an external agency. Van Haren then gave Horner the opportunity to respond to everything over the weekend. Horner did not respond.
Van Haren then decided to make the whole story, without further details, known to the world around noon last Monday.

One wonders who the leak is?! Mintzlaff has not gotten along well with Horner from the start and he does not like racing. He has rarely been to a race. Wherever he works, he gets into serious arguments with people who have done nothing wrong.
He also thought it was good that Van Haren made the entire story public, while these matters must be treated confidentially, must remain internal and can only be made public after a thorough investigation. He knew on Friday evening that Horner would already be condemned by everyone before the investigation had taken place and had concluded. He wants Horner out.
This is called character assassination = An attack intended to ruin someone's reputation.
And then people wonder who the leak was?!
.

Unfortunately, the boss of Red Bull GmbH's sports department is Oliver Mintzlaff, a man who was initially in charge at the Red Bull Leipzig football club and actually did everything wrong:
- won the German Cup twice in a row, but still argued with coach Domenico Tedesco and got him out.
- argued with technical director Max Everl and, despite the fact that he attracted good attackers with Xavi Simons and Luis Openda, was dismissed due to an alleged lack of commitment.
- also started a fight with older players Forsberg, Poulsen, Laimer and Kampl in the selection and who actually all want to replace the youth of Red Bull Salzburg. However, those youth players failed last season and definitely needed the experience of the old guard. Forsberg has now left for New York RB. Laimer turned a big nose when Bayern Munich came knocking.

In short, wherever Herr Mintzlaff interferes, there will be a big fight somewhere.

[Wouter]

Christian Horner: Kann Newey ihn retten?

Was Horner jetzt aber definitiv auf die Füße fallen könnte, ist der interne Machtkampf, den er nach dem Tod von Red Bull-Gründer Dietrich Mateschitz gegen Red Bull-Motorsportberater Helmut Marko vom Zaun gebrochen hat. Bereits Ende 2023 kamen Gerüchte auf, der Brite säge am Stuhl des Österreichers. Ohne Erfolg. Markos Vertrag wurde in diesem Jahr bis 2026 verlängert. Der Putschversuch ist gescheitert. Schwer vorstellbar, dass Marko Horner in der aktuellen Situation aktiv unterstützt.

Auch die enge Verbindung zu Technik-Superhirn Adrian Newey dürfte Horner nicht zu Hilfe kommen. Einst waren die Verträge der beiden Kumpels aneinander gekoppelt. Doch nach Informationen von F1-Insider.com soll das Band der Freundschaft mittlerweile gerissen sein. Newey hat demnach bereits bei Red Bull platziert, dass er dem Weltmeisterteam auch ohne Horner treu bleibt.

Christian Horner: Can Newey save him?

What could definitely fall on Horner's feet now is the internal power struggle that he started against Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko after the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. As early as the end of 2023, rumors arose that the Briton was sawing in the Austrian's chair. Without success. Marko's contract was extended this year until 2026. The coup attempt failed. It's hard to imagine Marko actively supporting Horner in the current situation.

The close connection to technical mastermind Adrian Newey is unlikely to help Horner either. The two friends' contracts were once linked to one another. But according to information from F1-Insider.com, the bond of friendship has now broken. Newey has already told Red Bull that he will remain loyal to the world champion team even without Horner.

https://f1-insider.com/formel-1-horner- ... ung-61618/

[Cs98]

Newey is probably getting paid a lot for the RB17, not to mention his son is head of sales on that project. Doubt Newey goes even if Horner does.

[ThijsMuis]

Erik van Haren, the Dutch journalist, heard rumors about Horner since the Hahnenkamm Rennen. Oliver Mintzlaff was there,
Toto Wollf and Zak Brown were there but Horner was not.
Since then, Van Haren has called around a lot and the rumors became stronger and stronger.
Last Friday he called the top boss at RB GmbH Mintzlaff and told his story. A few hours later he was told that it was all correct and that an investigation into Horner was already underway by an external agency. Van Haren then gave Horner the opportunity to respond to everything over the weekend. Horner did not respond.
Van Haren then decided to make the whole story, without further details, known to the world around noon last Monday.

One wonders who the leak is?! Mintzlaff has not gotten along well with Horner from the start and he does not like racing. He has rarely been to a race. Wherever he works, he gets into serious arguments with people who have done nothing wrong.
He also thought it was good that Van Haren made the entire story public, while these matters must be treated confidentially, must remain internal and can only be made public after a thorough investigation. He knew on Friday evening that Horner would already be condemned by everyone before the investigation had taken place and had concluded. He wants Horner out.
This is called character assassination = An attack intended to ruin someone's reputation.
And then people wonder who the leak was?!
.

Unfortunately, the boss of Red Bull GmbH's sports department is Oliver Mintzlaff, a man who was initially in charge at the Red Bull Leipzig football club and actually did everything wrong:
- won the German Cup twice in a row, but still argued with coach Domenico Tedesco and got him out.
- argued with technical director Max Everl and, despite the fact that he attracted good attackers with Xavi Simons and Luis Openda, was dismissed due to an alleged lack of commitment.
- also started a fight with older players Forsberg, Poulsen, Laimer and Kampl in the selection and who actually all want to replace the youth of Red Bull Salzburg. However, those youth players failed last season and definitely needed the experience of the old guard. Forsberg has now left for New York RB. Laimer turned a big nose when Bayern Munich came knocking.

In short, wherever Herr Mintzlaff interferes, there will be a big fight somewhere.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GFlM5QnXgAA ... name=small

Do you have a link for that?
There is specific accusations being targeted at Mintzlaff here

[Wouter]

Erik van Haren, the Dutch journalist, heard rumors about Horner since the Hahnenkamm Rennen. Oliver Mintzlaff was there,
Toto Wollf and Zak Brown were there but Horner was not.
Since then, Van Haren has called around a lot and the rumors became stronger and stronger.
Last Friday he called the top boss at RB GmbH Mintzlaff and told his story. A few hours later he was told that it was all correct and that an investigation into Horner was already underway by an external agency. Van Haren then gave Horner the opportunity to respond to everything over the weekend. Horner did not respond.
Van Haren then decided to make the whole story, without further details, known to the world around noon last Monday.

One wonders who the leak is?! Mintzlaff has not gotten along well with Horner from the start and he does not like racing. He has rarely been to a race. Wherever he works, he gets into serious arguments with people who have done nothing wrong.
He also thought it was good that Van Haren made the entire story public, while these matters must be treated confidentially, must remain internal and can only be made public after a thorough investigation. He knew on Friday evening that Horner would already be condemned by everyone before the investigation had taken place and had concluded. He wants Horner out.
This is called character assassination = An attack intended to ruin someone's reputation.
And then people wonder who the leak was?!
.

Unfortunately, the boss of Red Bull GmbH's sports department is Oliver Mintzlaff, a man who was initially in charge at the Red Bull Leipzig football club and actually did everything wrong:
- won the German Cup twice in a row, but still argued with coach Domenico Tedesco and got him out.
- argued with technical director Max Everl and, despite the fact that he attracted good attackers with Xavi Simons and Luis Openda, was dismissed due to an alleged lack of commitment.
- also started a fight with older players Forsberg, Poulsen, Laimer and Kampl in the selection and who actually all want to replace the youth of Red Bull Salzburg. However, those youth players failed last season and definitely needed the experience of the old guard. Forsberg has now left for New York RB. Laimer turned a big nose when Bayern Munich came knocking.

In short, wherever Herr Mintzlaff interferes, there will be a big fight somewhere.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GFlM5QnXgAA ... name=small

.

Do you have a link for that?
There is specific accusations being targeted at Mintzlaff here

.
Ex racer Giedo van der Garde called Erik van Haren two days ago. Video starts at the right time. Subtitels are available in all languages.
.

[Redragon]

All this speculations doesn’t make sense only if they want to destroy a team have been so successful as it is.

If the bosses are fighting for power sacking CH would not help them. As probably Newey would look someone else instead to stay on a team as the atmosphere would be not great

Verstapens have given a great car and so far won 3 wc so they decide to go after one of the heads have helped them to achieve that and be pilot number one on the team.

The outcome of the investigation to the word doesn’t help Redbull As team because can dammage their sponsors, etc… Even it is self contain economically would damage their growth

So only comes down to an employee after so many years of professionalism and no rumours or porblems with Christian Horner

Could be that employee is paid or coming from outside with the intention of make some damage. If we are going to speculate let’s do it big. Why not to look at ToTo side. Weird that this allegations come after his investigation, also who has lost more since 2021. Let’s speculate big.

[Vanja #66]

All this speculations doesn’t make sense only if they want to destroy a team have been so successful as it is.

Luca di Montezemolo couldn't wait to see the back of Brawn even with all the success that the golden team brought to Ferrari and him. More than once Brawn stood up to Montezemolo and told him he'd leave if Montezemolo keeps singling out people to blame, throwing tantrums etc. After Brawn left, he went on to "Italianise" the team "back to how it should be" and in doing so brought Ferrari the dry spell that keeps going still.

Unfortunately for F1 and other sports teams, corporate clowns can and will do things their own way when they want to.

[Big Tea]

Purely on a personal level as I dont even know the people involved, I get the feeling it boils down to something as simple as someone used to having the power to make decisions interfeering in Horners patch and being told in no uncertain terms to "mind your own business" which upset them.
As I say, pure speculation, but I have seen it before.

[Redragon]

All this speculations doesn’t make sense only if they want to destroy a team have been so successful as it is.

Luca di Montezemolo couldn't wait to see the back of Brawn even with all the success that the golden team brought to Ferrari and him. More than once Brawn stood up to Montezemolo and told him he'd leave if Montezemolo keeps singling out people to blame, throwing tantrums etc. After Brawn left, he went on to "Italianise" the team "back to how it should be" and in doing so brought Ferrari the dry spell that keeps going still.

Unfortunately for F1 and other sports teams, corporate clowns can and will do things their own way when they want to.

I totally understand that. But what a moronic move would be if true, that are the heads of Redbull or Verstapen camp behind. Probably top 3 of all the time if true