F1 team boss breaks silence on misconduct probe

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insisted it was “business as normal” as he helped the team launch its car for the new Formula 1 season on Friday.

Horner faces a company investigation into an alleged claim of misconduct.

Breaking his silence publicly since being probed a week ago, Horner again denied any wrongdoing as he spoke to reporters at the launch.

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“Obviously, there's a process that's ongoing at the moment," he said.

"Some allegations have been made which I fully deny and I comply, obviously, with that process and will continue to do so.

"Inevitably there has been a distraction, but the team are very together.

"Everybody's focused on the season ahead. So it's been very much business as normal. The support has been fantastic."

Horner was speaking in public for the first time since the Red Bull parent company said it was investigating allegations of misconduct toward a team employee.

“The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible,” the company said at the time.

It remains unclear how long the investigation might take.

Red Bull is preparing for pre-season testing next week in Bahrain and the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 3 with uncertainty over the future of its team principal.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has won the drivers’ title in each of the last three seasons.