Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff comments that Formula 1 has “set standards” for conduct amid the ongoing investigation into Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner.
Horner, who is present at winter testing, is subject to an investigation from Red Bull’s parent company relating to claims of alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a colleague.
The nature of the allegations is unknown – yet subject to heavy speculation – and the timeline for the investigation is also unknown.
All five team bosses present in Wednesday’s Bahrain press conference were asked to comment on the investigation, with Wolff the sole party to give his take on the matter.
“I think it’s clear, F1, and what the teams do, we stand for inclusion, equality, fairness, diversity,” he began.
“And it’s not only about talking about it, but living it day in, day out. And I think this is the standard that we’re setting ourselves.
“We are a global sport, one of the most important sports platform in the world. And we’re role models.”
Whilst navigating the question on the understandably sensitive subject, Wolff pointed out that amid heavy speculation regarding the nature of the allegations made against Horner, the investigation process must be carried out correctly for the good of not just the direct parties involved, but the sport as a whole.
“There is a lot of speculation that’s been happening over the last weeks, speculation that we have heard of,” Wolff continued. “And lots of things that are going on.
“I think what’s important at that stage, for process with rigour, I think what Red Bull has started as an independent investigation, if this is done in the right way, with transparency, and with that rigour, I think that’s something that we need to look at, what the outcomes are, and what it means for F1, and how we can learn from that.
“Because we want to talk about racing cars. And we want to talk about the sport, rather than these kinds of very, very critical topics that are more than just the team’s issue.
“It’s a phenomenon, or it’s an issue for all F1. And in general, for every individual that works out there.”
F1’s statement on Sunday concluded: “We hope [the] matter will be clarified at [the] earliest opportunity, after a fair & thorough process. Will not comment further at this time.”
