The co-owner of Red Bull, Mark Mateschitz, is reportedly urging for the swift departure of Christian Horner from the team amidst allegations of inappropriate behavior. 

A decision regarding Horner’s future is expected to be communicated within the next two days. Horner, who denies the allegations, has been under investigation following a complaint by a female employee to Red Bull’s parent company in Austria.

The situation has brought unwanted media attention to the defending champions, casting a shadow over the team ahead of the new season. Despite the ongoing investigation, Horner has continued to fulfill his role as team principal, including attending last week’s pre-season test in Bahrain.

Mateschitz is said to be pushing for Horner’s quick departure, while there is reportedly division within Red Bull’s hierarchy regarding the matter. The Austrian arm of the company, holding a 49% stake, insists on Horner’s exit, whereas the Thai major shareholder, owning 51%, has reportedly supported Horner thus far.

Red Bull’s external investigation has concluded, and the findings, including an extensive report, are expected to be disclosed soon. The company’s board will ultimately decide on Horner’s fate based on the investigation’s outcome.

Various individuals, including Red Bull’s driver Max Verstappen and Formula One itself, have emphasized the importance of a swift resolution to the matter. Verstappen stated the necessity for closure, while Formula One expressed hope for a fair and thorough process leading to clarification.

He said: “It’s better that I just focus on my own performance because that’s already the day job, but I guess, of course, for everyone, it’s nice when things are resolved. But that’s the only thing that I can say about that.”

Formula One also called for a swift resolution when making its first public comment on the Horner saga, saying in a statement: “We hope that the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity after a fair and thorough process.”

“We have noted Red Bull has instigated an independent investigation into internal allegations at Red Bull Racing. We will not comment further at this time.”