Marko backs Horner: "done a great job over the years"

While the new F1 cars for the 2024 season are being presented and teams eagerly welcome the media, Red Bull Racing are maintaining a radio silence. Virtually none of the Austrian team are addressing the Horner affair, which has gripped Formula 1 for days. Christian Horner is accused of displaying inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague.

The question of whether there was indeed inappropriate behaviour by Horner will surely be answered in the coming days. What will probably remain more of a secret is who leaked the story to the media. Several media outlets have already speculated that there are two camps within Red Bull Racing: on the one hand, there is Helmut Marko - the external advisor supported by Max Verstappen - and on the other, the Horner camp (supported by Red Bull's Thai owner and others).

'Marko does not believe in conspiracy theory'

Leaking the allegations would be a way of discrediting Horner to get rid of him. It has been suggested here and there. A Motorsport-Total journalist asked Marko about this theory. As he did earlier in the week, the Austrian wanted to say very little about the issue. He also wants to know nothing about a conspiracy theory to get rid of Horner.

Asked if he was not secretly behind a conspiracy against Horner, Marko said: "Horner has done a great job over the years."

This Friday, Horner will be questioned by an independent lawyer about the allegations. In a week's time, Red Bull Racing will present the RB20, with which Verstappen and Sergio Perez will go on a championship hunt.