Christian Horner F1 News: Martin Brundle gives damning Red Bull verdict on F1 impact

Martin Brundle speaks into a Sky Sports microphone as Christian Horner looks on glumly wearing headphones — Photo: © IMAGO

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Brundle gives damning Horner verdict on F1 impact

The broadcasting legend has had his say on the matter

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Friday 1 March 2024 21:57 Updated: 00:56

Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle has described the saga surrounding Red Bull team principal Christian Horner as a 'horrible situation'.

Horner was the subject of an internal investigation by the wider Red Bull brand after accusations of alleged 'inappropriate behaviour' that were levelled against the Brit by a female member of staff.

While this investigation cleared Horner of any wrongdoing and he has continued on in his role as team boss at the world champions, the story has moved on further, with an anonymous source delivering alleged WhatsApp messages from Horner to around 150 F1-related personnel, including team principals and bosses.

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Horner vehemently denies the accusations against him, and said in a statement on Thursday that he would not comment on what he called 'anonymous speculation' regarding the supposed messages.

Red Bull said that the matter was 'private' and that 'it would be inappropriate for Red Bull to comment'.

Apparent WhatsApp messages belonging to Christian Horner have been released by an anonymous source

Martin Brundle has become a fixture of Sky Sports' F1 coverage

No end in sight after Horner verdict

Both McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff have called for both the FIA and F1 to intervene in the matter, while Horner was involved in a meeting with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem during FP3 in Bahrain, according to Brundle's colleague Ted Kravitz.

Now, Brundle has been assessing the impact that the situation regarding Horner and Red Bull is having on the sport of F1.

"I think it's unquestionable that it's not good for Formula 1 with what's going and I do believe that some actions need to be taken to move this along and to bring this to an absolute conclusion," he told Sky Sports after FP3.

"But as I said earlier on in the week, it feels to me like it's the beginning of the story rather than the end of it, but we'll have to wait and see but we do know that all allegations have been denied.

"It's just a horrible situation, isn't it? Whichever way you look at it."

F1 Red Bull Christian Horner Martin Brundle