Sebastian Vettel, echoing Lewis Hamilton‘s sentiments, has emphasized the need for “more transparency” in Formula 1.
Vettel, who clinched all four of his world championships with the Red Bull team under Christian Horner’s leadership from 2010 to 2013, has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding Horner.
Expressing his concerns, Vettel stressed the importance of addressing the situation with greater openness. “Obviously there’s been a lot of talk since the beginning of the year. I think with these things, it’s always difficult to know everything,” Vettel stated.
“It would be nice if there was simply more transparency so that you could have more of an opinion. I think it’s always difficult if you read one thing, then another thing and then the opposite. Now, things are going around in circles.”
Vettel also highlighted the outstanding performance of Max Verstappen and the dedicated team behind him at Red Bull. He lamented that amidst the controversy, the exceptional work of the team often gets overshadowed.
“The shame is that obviously Max [Verstappen] is doing a great job. The team, a lot of individuals that I remember from my time there, are doing a great job in the background and that’s sort of forgotten when the subject hovers around something else.”
The controversy revolves around allegations of inappropriate and controlling behavior made against Horner, which were investigated by Red Bull.
Horner was cleared of misconduct, but the situation remains contentious, with the female colleague who made the accusations reportedly appealing Red Bull’s verdict. According to a family friend, she has been left feeling “upset, scared, and lonely.”
While acknowledging progress in certain aspects of F1, Vettel noted that the sport still retains elements of its traditional structure. “F1 is changing but it’s an old-fashioned business in many ways,” he remarked.
He also commented on the increasing presence of women in the sport, both as fans and professionals, indicating a positive shift. “So first of all, there weren’t many women [employed within the sport] you know, the numbers were going up.
“So between when I started and when I left, there were a lot more women in the paddock and a lot more women not just following the sport, but also working in the sport. So I think that’s a positive change. But I think really, like everywhere else, there’s still room for improvement.”
