The Red Bull employee who submitted a complaint of inappropriate behaviour against Christian Horner reportedly plans to take the case to an employment tribunal if her appeal fails.
The move would potentially bring details of the investigation into the public domain after much has been kept under wraps in the last couple of months.
Allegations of inappropriate behaviour from Horner to a female colleague at Red Bull surfaced in early February, less than a month before the start of the 2024 F1 season.
Red Bull announced that an independent investigation had begun and Horner quickly released a statement saying 'I completely deny these claims'.
Christian Horner's female accuser reportedly plans to take the case to an employment tribunal if her appeal fails
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The investigation ran until the week leading up to the first Grand Prix of the season in Bahrain.
Horner had professed his innocence when he spoke to the media at Red Bull's car launch and was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing on February 28.
The female accuser has since been suspended by Red Bull and has also launched an appeal against the result of the investigation.
She is still waiting for the result of her appeal and it appears she won't give up if she doesn't get the outcome she wants.
The Guardian claims that the accuser will take the case to an employment tribunal if her appeal is unsuccessful.
The report says that will open up the potential of 'private details' from the case being made public.
As of yet, no details of the investigation have been released, including the nature of the complaint or the findings, due to confidentiality.
A legal expert says that the confidentiality 'will no longer apply' if the case goes to an employment tribunal.
Tania Goodman, the head of employment at law firm Collyer Bristow, told the Guardian: "If an employee has a complaint or grievance, they raise it internally, perhaps informally at first but if it’s not resolved then it becomes formal and is investigated and considered, usually as part of a grievance hearing after which an outcome is given.
"If the employee is not happy with the decision, then they can appeal internally and at the end of that process if they’re still not satisfied they can go to an employment tribunal.
"In those circumstances [going to an employment tribunal] the confidentiality that attaches to internal procedures would no longer apply.
"A final hearing is open to the public during which information about the case is available including the nature of the complaints, witness evidence, submissions, the tribunal’s conclusions, and a written judgement."
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Christian Horner has continued to profess his innocence after allegations of inappropriate behaviour
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Horner has called for a line to be drawn under the matter as he continues as normal in his role as Red Bull team principal.
But there is no hiding from the fact that the saga has clouded the start of the F1 campaign.
A day after Horner was cleared of wrongdoing, an anonymous email account leaked alleged messages and photographs purporting to be evidence in the investigation.
The file was sent to hundreds of F1 journalists as well as key figures in the sport, including other team principals.
Christian Horner has continued in his role as Red Bull team principal as usual
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Horner distanced himself from the leak and pointed to the result of the investigation in a statement that followed.
A friend of the accuser revealed her disappointment in how the process has panned out.
The pal told the Guardian: "She is stoical but it is a difficult time. She has been suspended from a job she loves in an industry where she is highly regarded after she tried to do everything by the book."
The report from the newspaper also claims that the complaint was originally raised last November before it was leaked in early February.
GB News has approached Red Bull for comment.
