The female employee who accused Red Bull team principal Christian Horner of inappropriate behaviour has had her appeal into the investigation dismissed.
An independent inquiry cleared Horner, who had always denied the allegations, earlier this year after claims of controlling behaviour, with the 50-year-old working as normal and leading the team into the new Formula One season.
That complainant has been suspended by Red Bull by March and appealed the decision of the initial investigation.
That appeal was not upheld, after a new independent KC reviewed the evidence, and the findings were presented to Red Bull’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, this week.
Red Bull GmbH said in a statement: "Earlier this year a complaint raised against Christian Horner was investigated. That complaint was dealt with through the company's grievance procedure by the appointment of an independent KC who dismissed the grievance.
"The complainant exercised the right to appeal, and the appeal was carried out by another independent KC. All stages of the appeal process have now been concluded, with the final outcome that the appeal is not being upheld.
"The KC's conclusions have been accepted and adopted by Red Bull. The internal process has concluded.”
Red Bull will not be making further public comment on the situation, but insisted the company remains “committed to continuing to meet the highest workplace standards”.
Red Bull are currently leading both championships, but it has not been the procession that appeared likely at the start of the season.
It has been an unsettling year for the team, with it announced in May that designer Adrian Newey, who had been behind of some of the most dominant cars in F1 history, will leave next year. Newey is believed to have grown frustrated with the infighting at Red Bull.
Sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, meanwhile, will leave to become Audi's Formula 1 team principal.
