Christian Horner insists he has no plans to resign as Red Bull team principal amid the ongoing investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Horner has also played down any speculation of a rift with Max Verstappen and his family ahead of the new F1 season starting next month.
Red Bull were the final team to unveil their new car ahead of the 2024 campaign, doing so at their Milton Keynes base on Thursday evening.
Horner attended the event after holding a meeting with an independent lawyer last Friday amid allegations from a female colleague that he completely denies.
Christian Horner insists he will not be resigning as Red Bull team principal
Sky Sports/Getty
According to F1 Insider, former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone advised Horner to resign earlier this week.
However, the 50-year-old is determined to continue in the role and made his first public appearance since the allegations emerged at the car launch.
Asked if he had considered walking away, Horner said: “No, not at all. Absolutely not.
“I’m fully committed to this team, I’ve built this team, I’ve convinced people to come here and work here.
“I enjoy working with the team, with the people. The biggest asset of the team is the people and that continues to be the case.”
Horner has been in charge at Red Bull since 2005 and has overseen huge success, with Verstappen winning the last three world titles.
German outlet Motorsport Total claimed last week that Horner’s relationship with Verstappen’s father Jos had been damaged.
But Horner insists that is not the case, telling Sky Sports: “No not at all (there is no friction). I was with Jos and Max at Silverstone a couple of days ago.
“Max is very focused on his job. He’s been very supportive and I’m looking forward to the season ahead with him.”
Horner also played down any talk of friction with other senior members of staff at Red Bull.
He said: “The support from the shareholders has been phenomenal and without that support we wouldn’t be here. So no, that’s not correct.
“There’s always going to be speculation but we’re together as one team, that’s the way we’ve always been and that’s the way we continue to be.”
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Christian Horner has played down any talk of friction at Red Bull
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Verstappen was also asked about a rift with Horner but insists all is good.
The Dutchman said: “It (our relationship) is very good. We have seen each other a couple of times, I’ve been on the simulator, he was also there when we were filming.
“We have achieved a lot of things together so that doesn’t change suddenly.”
Verstappen and Red Bull will be favourites to be triumphant again this season and Horner says he is committed to Red Bull for the long term.
Christian Horner was at the Red Bull car launch on Thursday
Getty
He said: “Look I’m absolutely committed to this team.
“I’ve been here since the beginning, I built this team, there’s been highs and lows along the way as you’ve seen in some of the videos that you’ve seen earlier.
“We’ve won 113 races, we’ve won seven drivers’ world championships, we’ve won six constructors’ world championships in 19 seasons, and that’s in the history books now but it’s what lies ahead that’s always important.”
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