© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Christian Horner says Red Bull has “been on trial because of public accusations since Singapore”, and adds children of employees are “being bullied in playgrounds”.
Ever since the FIA announced that Red Bull has breached the 2021 budget cap, numerous F1 personalities and observers have been giving their opinion on the situation.
One of the louder voices was McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who wrote a stern letter to the FIA and, despite not naming Red Bull directly, said that a budget cap breach ‘constitutes cheating’.
At the United States Grand Prix Saturday press conference, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was asked to give his thoughts on Brown’s letter.
“Well, obviously, Zak’s letter – which wasn’t copied to us, obviously – we’ve had sight of that letter, and it’s tremendously disappointing,” the Briton said.
“For a fellow competitor to be accusing you of cheating, to accuse you of fraudulent activity, is shocking.
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“It’s absolutely shocking that another competitor, without the facts, without any knowledge of the details, can be making that kind of accusation.”
Horner then said that the children of Red Bull employees have been experiencing bullying due to these accustations.
“You know, we’ve been on trial because of public accusations since Singapore. And the rhetoric of cheats, the rhetoric of… that we’ve had this enormous benefit, that the numbers have been put out in the media that are miles out of reality, and the damage that does to the brand, to our partners, to our drivers, to our workforce.
“In an age where mental health is prevalent, we’re seeing significant issues now, within our workforce. We’re getting kids that are being bullied in playgrounds that are employee’s children.
“That is not right, through fictitious allegations from other teams. And you cannot go around just making that kind of allegation without any fact, or substance.
“So, we absolutely are appalled at the behaviour of some of our competitors.”
Horner then also mentioned the fact that rumours about Red Bull’s cost cap breach started coming out before the official announcement. He blames this on a “leak” from the FIA.
“But what has been just tremendously disappointing through this whole process is that the leakage that happened is that then suddenly we are tried and subjected to what, three weeks of effective abuse.
“And then to be seeing… I mean, Zak’s got a very convenient memory of the letter that he wrote, accusing us of cheating and being fraudulent.
“You know, it’s just not right, it’s just not right, and this has to stop,” Red Bull’s team boss concluded.
