David Coulthard believes certain rival Formula 1 teams want to “stoke the fire” with calls for a more transparent outcome to Red Bull’s probe into Christian Horner.
Red Bull GmbH initiated an investigation into the Team Principal following allegations from a female employee that centred on inappropriate and coercive behaviour.
However, Horner was exonerated from the accusations when Red Bull reviewed the findings from an external barrister, although it refused to disclose further details.
But the matter has continued to dominate the headlines, with both Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and McLaren CEO Zak Brown urging the sport to issue more
Coulthard, who drove for Red Bull and is now an ambassador, reckons there is an ulterior motive among those claims, though, and thinks it should remain private.
When asked about the calls for Red Bull to be transparent on Horner being cleared, Coulthard told Channel 4: “There is a call from those who want to stoke the fire.
“There will be those who are looking for the good of the fanbase, to ask for more transparency. But it’s a private matter. We all have a right to privacy.
“If there was a case to answer, then we’d know about it. It has been dealt with by an independent group.
“Now, that will not satisfy those who want more. Those who want to dig deeper.”
Coulthard has pointed to the opaque details the FIA provided on Ferrari’s contentious 2019 power unit as evidence that such matters are dealt with behind closed doors.
“If you look up and down the pitlane when Formula 1 was not as popular, there have been a number of situations where there hasn’t been transparency,” he highlighted.
“Ferrari came to an agreement with the FIA regarding their fuel flow and their engine. We are still none the wiser as to what that agreement was.
“But it did seem to coincide with them losing their winning ways!”
Coulthard has supported Horner’s view that Red Bull’s F1 operation has remained fixated on continuing the team’s on-track dominance with two wins from two in 2024.
“The sport has never been bigger. With something so big, it means a lot of money, a lot of politics, a lot of controversy,” the Scot added.
“I see business as normal within the race team.
“Of course, it’s not business as normal when it comes to Christian going into press conferences and being handed the scrutiny that he is under.
“But in terms of how the team go about their operation? How Max [Verstappen] and Checo [Sergio Perez] go in the car. They cannot be affected by that.
“You put your visor down and there is nothing else on your mind apart from driving quickly.”
The complainant has since been placed on suspension, but it has been reported that the woman in question has exercised her right to launch an appeal to Red Bull.
Horner had continued in his role throughout the whole investigation, but Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, suggested that the Briton’s position had now become untenable.
Meanwhile, Horner launched a passionate defence during an FIA press conference in Saudi Arabia a week ago, condemning the “intrusion” into him and his close ones.
Coulthard added: “This is unfortunate and unsavoury but it has been handled in a way which has brought a conclusion.”
