Helmut Marko admits he’s “surprised” that texts allegedly from Christian Horner to a complainant concerned within the Purple Bull investigation had been leaked to F1 workers and media.
Purple Bull F1 boss Horner was cleared of “inappropriate conduct” on Wednesday following a three-week inside investigation led by an out of doors lawyer following allegations by a feminine colleague that Horner strongly denied.
However late on Thursday, WhatsApp texts and pictures – a few of a sexually suggestive nature – had been leaked from an nameless supply to greater than 100 F1 workers and the media, allegedly exhibiting conversations between Horner and the complainant. The veracity of the content material can’t be verified and it isn’t identified whether or not the alleged exchanges had been a part of an investigation or new proof.
Now, Purple Bull chief adviser Marko, who was interviewed by Horner within the F1 paddock in Bahrain on Thursday forward of the primary race of the brand new season, has responded to the leak.
“I’m amazed and shocked that the paperwork had been leaked,” he informed German every day Bild, as reported by motorsport-total.
“I've by no means seen them myself.
Horner responded to the newest improvement on Thursday evening with a quick assertion: “I can’t touch upon nameless hypothesis, however to reiterate, I’ve all the time denied the allegations. I revered the integrity of the impartial investigation and cooperated totally with it each step of the best way.
“This was a radical and truthful investigation carried out by an impartial specialist solicitor and resulted within the criticism being dismissed. I stay totally targeted on the beginning of the season.”
The Impartial contacted Purple Bull GmbH, the dad or mum firm of Purple Bull Racing, for additional remark, to which they replied: “This can be a personal matter between Mr Horner and the opposite and it will not be acceptable for Purple Bull to touch upon it.”
Horner may but discover himself in sizzling water with the game's governing physique, the FIA, with the governing physique's president Mohammed Ben Sulayem set to debate the matter with F1 chief government Stefano Domenicali in Bahrain on Friday.
All these collaborating in Formulation 1 should observe a set of rules, with Article 12.2 stating {that a} competitor may be caught in breach of the code for: “Any phrases, acts or writings which trigger ethical damage or loss to the FIA, its organs, its members or government officers and extra usually on the curiosity of motor sport and on the values defended by the FIA.”
Earlier on Thursday, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and McLaren CEO Zak Brown referred to as on F1 and the FIA to overview the Purple Bull-led investigation.
“This was a radical and truthful investigation carried out by an impartial specialist solicitor and resulted within the criticism being dismissed. I stay totally targeted on the beginning of the season.”
The Impartial contacted Purple Bull GmbH, the dad or mum firm of Purple Bull Racing, for additional remark, to which they replied: “This can be a personal matter between Mr Horner and the opposite and it will not be acceptable for Purple Bull to touch upon it.”
Horner, whose spouse is Spice Lady pop star Geri Horner, may but discover himself in sizzling water with the game's governing physique, the FIA, with Ben Sulayem set to debate the matter with Domenicali in Bahrain on Friday.
All these collaborating in Formulation 1 should observe a set of rules, with Article 12.2 stating {that a} competitor may be caught in breach of the code for: “Any phrases, acts or writings which trigger ethical damage or loss to the FIA, its organs, its members or government officers and extra usually on the curiosity of motor sport and on the values defended by the FIA.”
Earlier on Thursday, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and McLaren CEO Zak Brown referred to as on F1 and the FIA to overview the Purple Bull-led investigation.
It’s understood that neither US F1 house owners Liberty Media nor its regulator the FIA have seen Purple Bull GmbH's report back to Horner, which is claimed to be 150 pages lengthy – and stated to be “confidential”.
The Purple Bull F1 boss (50) is the longest-serving workforce boss on the F1 grid, having been on the helm because the workforce was based in 2005.
