Purple Bull principal Christian Horner dismissed “nameless hypothesis” after recordsdata purportedly associated to his misconduct investigation had been broadly distributed on Thursday, two days earlier than his staff opens its bid for a fourth consecutive System One drivers’ championship.

His assertion was pressured by a shocking off-track improvement: Because the second observe was occurring for the Bahrain Grand Prix, recordsdata had been emailed to almost 200 folks within the F1 paddock, together with Liberty Media, F1, the FIA, the opposite 9 staff principals and a number of media retailers.

The authenticity of the recordsdata has not been verified by ESPN or The Related Press; the recordsdata got here from a generic e-mail account.

The recordsdata had been despatched at some point after the staff’s father or mother firm dismissed a grievance of alleged misconduct by Horner towards a staff worker. He was on the observe when the recordsdata had been despatched.

“I will not touch upon nameless hypothesis, however to reiterate, I’ve all the time denied the allegations,” Horner stated in an announcement learn to journalists by a staff spokesperson; the assertion was from Horner, not on behalf of Purple Bull.

“I revered the integrity of the impartial investigation and absolutely cooperated with it each step of the way in which,” Horner stated. “It was an intensive and truthful investigation performed by an impartial specialist barrister, and it has concluded, dismissing the grievance made. I stay absolutely targeted on the beginning of the season.”

Particulars of the allegations involving Horner haven’t been made public. The Purple Bull firm stated Wednesday that the complainant has a proper to attraction the choice.

A Purple Bull spokesperson reiterated to ESPN that Horner might be within the Bahrain paddock on Friday, when qualifying for Saturday’s Bahrain Grand Prix will happen.

Horner, 50, has been the staff principal since Purple Bull entered F1 as a full constructor in 2005. He has guided the staff to 6 constructors’ championships and 7 drivers’ championships. Purple Bull gained all however one of many 22 races final season, with 19 wins for Max Verstappen, the three-time champion. Its redesigned automotive is broadly thought-about the quickest on the grid for 2024 going into Saturday’s season opener.

McLaren staff principal Zak Brown stated F1 and governing physique the FIA ought to search to reexamine Purple Bull’s resolution to dismiss the grievance.

“From what I’ve seen, there continues to be loads of rumors and hypothesis, questions,” Brown stated shortly earlier than the nameless e-mail was despatched. “I believe the sanctioning physique has a duty and authority to our sport, to our followers. All of us in System One are ambassadors for the game on and off the observe, such as you see in different sports activities. And so I believe they should ensure that issues have been absolutely clear with them.”

Mercedes staff principal Toto Wolff known as the assertion from Purple Bull, which didn’t embrace any particulars of the investigation, “fairly primary” and stated F1 “wants extra transparency” on the difficulty.

“I simply merely assume that as a sport, we can not afford to go away issues within the obscure and within the opaque on crucial subjects like this as a result of it will catch us out,” Wolff stated, additionally talking earlier than the nameless e-mail.

Horner, who remained in his function as Purple Bull staff principal through the inner investigation, led Purple Bull throughout Thursday observe and stated his staff was extra unified than ever heading into the brand new season.

“I am simply happy that the method is over,” Horner advised British broadcaster Sky Sports activities Information, talking earlier than Wolff’s and Brown’s feedback. “I clearly cannot remark about it, however we’re right here very a lot to focus now on the Grand Prix and the season forward and making an attempt to defend each of our titles.”

Requested whether or not the staff was unified, he stated: “Inside the staff, it is by no means been stronger.”

Info from The Related Press and ESPN’s Nate Saunders contributed to this report.