Williams chief publicly addresses allegations by Christian Horner
Wiliams crew principal James Vowles has turn into the primary Formula One boss to touch upon allegations of ‘extremely controlling behaviour’ that had been made in opposition to Red Bull’s Christian Horner.
On Monday, Mail Sport reported that the accusations had been made in opposition to the Red Bull crew principal by a feminine colleague. But talking on the claims, the 50-year-old, who joined the Austrian racing crew in 2005, stated: ‘I utterly deny these claims.’
Horner, who married former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell in Bedfordshire in 2015, is predicted to remain in his place whereas Red Bull full their investigation – which is being carried out by a specialist lawyer.
But now, Vowles, a former Mercedes strategist, has turn into the primary Formula One boss to talk on the allegations.
‘The sport itself, wind again 20 years in the past, male-dominated with out query. If you needed to ask me what makes up a crew, it might be white, greater than doubtless male, greater than doubtless 40 years outdated… one thing in that ballpark,’ Vowles advised Bloomberg TV.
Wiliams Formula One crew principal James Vowles has addressed the misconduct allegations which were made in opposition to Christian Horner
Accusations of ‘extremely controlling behaviour’ had been made in opposition to the Red Bull crew principal
‘That’s altering, and it is solely a optimistic that is altering that outcome.
‘I can solely management what occurs inside Williams and what I can do inside that atmosphere is open everybody’s eyes to that is how we now have to be, as a result of one of the best concepts do not come from being a closed group of people.
‘It comes from variety.’
He added: ‘These allegations are allegations.
‘I’m afraid I haven’t got any understanding of what’s behind them and the importance of what has occurred.
‘All I can say [is] that ought to this ever occur in our regard, we’ll be fully supportive when it comes to fixing it and ensuring we now have a tradition that’s accepting of everybody.’
Writing in a message to Mail Sport, Horner had additionally described the accusations as ‘nuts’.
His defenders had claimed that the allegations had been smears made to unseat him from his place in what has been described as an inner combat by these loyal to him.
Williams, in the meantime, appointed Vowles as their crew principal again in January 2023.
Prior to then he had been working as Lewis Hamilton’s head of technique at Mercedes.
The 44-year-old changed Jost Capito after the facet had completed backside of the constructors championship in 2022 with Williams occurring to complete seventh within the standings.
When requested about the results of the allegations made in opposition to Horner, Vowles added: ‘Again, I feel it means all of us must look one another within the mirror and ensure that we’re posing the correct questions internally and appearing in a manner that we are able to solely be happy with, not right this moment however within the subsequent ten years.’
His companion, Geri Haliwell, has admitted that she was left ‘devastated’ by the allegations
Williams principal Vowles added that the allegations ‘imply all of us must look one another within the mirror and ensure that we’re posing the correct questions internally’
Red Bull, in the meantime, are because of launch their automobile for the upcoming Formula One season on February 15 forward of the brand new season which begins in Bahrain on March 2.
After the claims had been made in opposition to Horner, the Racing crew issued a press release that learn: ‘After turning into conscious of current allegations, the corporate initiated an impartial investigation.
‘This investigation, which is already underway, is being carried out by an exterior specialised lawyer.
‘The firm takes these issues extraordinarily severely and the investigation will likely be full as quickly as practicable. It wouldn’t be acceptable to make any additional feedback at the moment.’
Horner with Red Bull’s Formula One champion Max Verstappen in Qatar on October 7 final 12 months
Christian Horner, pictured with Prince Harry earlier than the Texas Grand Prix in October final 12 months
The crew principal has overseen a interval of big success with the Austrian racing crew notably successful 21 of the 22 races on the Grand Prix calendar final season as Max Verstappen sped to the Driver’s Championship.
The crew additionally clinched the Constructor’s Championship, pipping Mercedes to the title by a whopping 451 factors, the sixth time he has gained the honour with Red Bull.
