Horner misconduct accuser suspended by Red Bull – sources

The employee who accused Red Bull F1 team boss Christian Horner of inappropriate behavior has been suspended by the company, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to ESPN.

Last week, Horner was cleared after a lengthy investigation by parent company Red Bull GmbH.

The employee, who still has the right to appeal the verdict, was suspended with full pay.

His suspension is linked to the findings of the investigation, sources told ESPN.

A Red Bull spokesperson said: “The company cannot comment on this internal matter.”

At a news conference Thursday, Horner himself said he couldn't comment on “anything confidential between an employee and a company.”

Horner remained in charge of the team throughout the investigation.

He was already scheduled to address the media on Thursday as part of preparations for the second F1 race of the year, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The start of the F1 season has been overshadowed by the Horner investigation and its fallout.