Daniel Ricciardo has expressed empathy for Red Bull team principal Christian Horner as the investigation into misconduct allegations against him reaches its final stages. The 50-year-old has been under scrutiny since February due to accusations of inappropriate behaviour made by an unnamed Red Bull employee.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Horner has continued to fulfil his duties as team principal, appearing at the RB20 launch event earlier this month and being present during testing in Bahrain last week. Ricciardo acknowledged the impact of the investigation on the team’s preparations for the 2024 season but emphasized that it did not serve as a distraction during on-track activities.
Reflecting on the situation, Ricciardo stated, “Coming into the test, obviously we were aware of everything going on. But would I say was it an on-track distraction? No, it wasn’t. Knowing we have so little time as well, it was really ‘I need to focus on me, my team, my driving’ and trying to start this week as strongly as possible.”
He also expressed his support for Horner, citing their longstanding relationship: “Do I feel for him through all of this? Yes, I’ve known Christian for a long time. He’s always been great with me. So I do hope that there is a fair outcome and resolution soon, hopefully before this weekend, so it’s not really a distraction for him or obviously anyone in the team.”
Max Verstappen echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing his focus on the performance of the car and his own driving. He expressed the importance of resolving the issue promptly for the sake of the team’s unity and success: “It’s a whole team effort that everyone has to stick together and work to more success, so that’s why it’s important to get everything resolved very soon.”
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