Toto Wolff has called on Formula 1 to demand ‘more transparency’ from Red Bull following their investigation into Christian Horner.
The Red Bull team principal was recently cleared of allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ towards a female colleague ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix season opener.
He will now continue his role at Red Bull following the internal probe, and is free to carry on with his job.
But his Mercedes counterpart Wolff has challenged F1 chiefs to review Red Bull’s investigation.
Wolff said: “I just read the statement, which was pretty basic. My personal opinion is we can’t really look behind the curtain.
“There is a lady in an organisation that has spoken to HR and said there was an issue and it was investigated and yesterday the sport has received the message that it’s all fine, we’ve looked at it.
“I believe with the aspiration as a global sport, on such critical topics, it needs more transparency and I wonder what the sport’s position is?
“We’re competitors, we’re a team and we can have our own personal opinions or not.
“But it’s more like a general reaction or action that we as a sport need to assess, what is right in that situation and what is wrong.
“Are we talking with the right moral approach, with the values based on the speculation that is out there?
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“As a sport, we cannot afford to leave things in the vague and in the opaque on critical topics like this, because this is going to catch us out.”
Zak Brown, the chief executive officer for McLaren Racing, echoed Wolff’s views, as he insisted the FIA should press for more details from Red Bull.
He remarked: “I read this statement. I think from what I’ve seen there continues to be a lot of rumours and speculation, questions.
“I think the sanctioning body has a responsibility and authority to our sport, to our officials.
“I think all of us in Formula 1 are ambassadors for the sport on and off the track, like you see in other sports, and so I think they need to make sure that things have been fully transparent with them.
“And I don’t know what those conversations are and that needs to be thorough, fully transparent, and that they come to the same conclusion that has been given by Red Bull, and that they’ve agreed with the outcome.
“But I think until then, there’ll continue to be speculation because there are a lot of unanswered questions about the whole process.
“So I think that’s what’s needed by those that run the sport to really be able to draw a line under it.
“Until then, I think there’ll continue to be some level of speculation by people and I don’t think that’s healthy for the sport.”
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Throughout his investigation, Horner maintained his innocence and denied all allegations against him.
The 50-year-old is the longest-serving team principal on the grid having been appointed in 2015.
Horner looked in good spirits back in the paddock on Thursday, where he said: “I am pleased the process is over but I obviously can’t comment on it.”
Source: TalkSport.com Motorsport
