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The woman who accused Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner of inappropriate behaviour has been suspended from her role at the Formula One team, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
Her suspension comes days after the company said it had cleared Horner of wrongdoing following a barrister-led probe.
The employee did not respond to messages seeking comment. Red Bull Racing declined to comment.
The allegations have rocked the racing team and the wider sport, overshadowing the start of the new F1 season and drawing scrutiny to Horner and the team’s leadership.
Red Bull, the Austrian energy drinks company that owns the team, has neither published the findings of the investigation into Horner nor revealed the identity of the barrister who led it.
It is unclear whether the staff member will appeal against the decision to dismiss her grievance.
Horner, who is one of the most recognisable people in the paddock, has repeatedly denied the accusations. He led the team in the opening Grand Prix in Bahrain and is preparing to go racing in Jeddah this weekend.
A day after Red Bull said the grievance against Horner had been dismissed, members of the media and senior figures in motorsport received a cache of messages allegedly exchanged by Horner and the woman.
Horner has declined to confirm their veracity. He has said that he fully co-operated with the investigation.
“It was a thorough and fair investigation, conducted by an independent specialist barrister, and it has concluded dismissing the complaint made. I remain fully focused on the start of the season,” he said last week.
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