Up Next
Ford has urged Red Bull to resolve its investigation into allegations against its Formula 1 team principal Christian Horner and is "frustrated by the lack of full transparency" it has received, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The AP says in its article it has seen a letter sent by CEO Jim Farley on Friday to the team, which Ford is due to partner on Red Bull's in-house engine project in 2026.
Farley expressed his dissatisfaction over "the unresolved allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Red Bull Racing leadership".
Horner was placed under investigation by the Red Bull parent company early in February over allegations of misconduct, and was interviewed on February 9 as part of a process that is being carried out by an "external specialist barrister".
This remains ongoing and Horner has since appeared at the team's 2024 F1 car launch and at pre-season testing earlier this week in Bahrain.
There, he was involved in an awkward exchange during his appearance as Red Bull's representative in a team principals' press conference.
Farley underlined Ford's desire for "prompt and serious attention" to the conclusion of the investigation. That is a process that the two F1 team principals to have spoken on the matter - McLaren's Zak Brown and Mercedes' Toto Wolff - also noted requires "transparency and rigour".
Ford, Farley said, first requested further information from Red Bull almost two weeks ago and stated "as we have indicated previously, without satisfactory response, Ford’s values are non-negotiable".
"It is imperative that our racing partners share and demonstrate a genuine commitment to those same values," Farley wrote in the letter.
"My team and I are available at any time to discuss this matter. We remain insistent on, and hopeful, for a resolution we can all stand behind.”
In line with Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook's comments in a previous statement acknowledging Red Bull was "taking the situation very seriously", Farley said he trusted the fairness of the investigation.
But he added Ford was "increasingly frustrated, however, by the lack of resolution or clear indication from you about when you anticipate a fair and just resolution of this matter".
"We are likewise frustrated by the lack of full transparency surrounding this matter with us, your corporate partners, and look forward to receiving a complete account of all findings," he said.
