Christian Horner is assured he’ll stay Purple Bull staff boss regardless of dealing with an ongoing investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour, one thing he labelled a “distraction” forward of the brand new Components One season.

Horner, who was accused by an F1 staff worker of controlling behaviour, has strenuously denied the claims made in opposition to him.

The Brit, boss of the staff because it joined F1 in 2005, confronted a listening to into the matter on Feb. 9, though there is no such thing as a timeframe for when a choice about his future will probably be made.

It has been extensively speculated Horner will lose his job on account of the investigation.

Requested at Purple Bull’s 2024 automotive launch, the primary time he has confronted the media because the story broke, if he’s assured he’ll nonetheless be staff boss into the brand new season and past, he was unequivocal.

“Yeah, completely,” Horner advised ESPN. “Clearly there is a course of that is ongoing. I am very centered on the season forward.”

Purple Bull goes into the brand new season — which begins on March 2 with the Bahrain Grand Prix on the again of probably the most dominant season in F1 historical past, the place it gained all however one race.

The Horner state of affairs has left a shadow hanging over the staff, who gained all however one race in 2023, probably the most dominant season ever recorded by a staff.

“Inevitably there was a distraction however the staff are very collectively,” he added, in a wider media session. “All people is targeted on the season forward, so it has been very a lot enterprise as regular. The assist has been improbable.”

He added: “I am very centered on the season forward. Nice to see the brand new automotive launched in the present day and I am wanting ahead to seeing it run in Bahrain subsequent week. It is enterprise as regular.

“I believe all people’s eager to get to a conclusion, however there is a course of that needs to be revered, that is solely proper, and within the fullness of time that will probably be accomplished.”

Purple Bull has gained back-to-back constructors championships, whereas driver Max Verstappen has gained three straight drivers titles — each staff and driver are heavy favourites to defend their crowns in 2024.

Horner has overseen Purple Bull’s total historical past, which included one other spell of consecutive championships between 2010 and 2013.

He was employed by Purple Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in October 2022. Sources have advised ESPN his loss of life has left one thing of an influence vacuum on the high stage of the corporate.

Many experiences about Horner’s state of affairs have instructed there are actions above his head throughout the wider Purple Bull firm to oust him from energy.

It was the Purple Bull model, not the F1 staff, that first launched the investigation.

Horner dismissed that suggestion, saying: “We’re very united. We have all the time had large assist from the shareholders since Dietrich’s passing. The shareholders have been extremely supportive, and you’ll see the extent of funding there’s on campus right here with powertrains, with the way forward for Components One, that we’re one staff.”

He then reaffirmed it’s “enterprise as regular” for Purple Bull going into the brand new season.