Vowles speaks of impact of Horner allegations

Williams team principal James Vowles says allegations regarding Christian Horner’s behavior show that personnel have to ensure they act in a way they can be proud of “not today but in the next 10 years”.

Horner is facing an investigation that was launched by Red Bull GmbH – the owner of Red Bull Racing – over alleged inappropriate behavior. While the details of the allegations have not been confirmed, Vowles was asked during an interview with Bloomberg what it would mean if the situation led to Horner leaving Formula 1.

"I think it means we all have to look at each other in the mirror and make sure that we are posing the right questions internally and acting in a way that we can only be proud of, not today but in the next 10 years,” Vowles told Bloomberg.

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The question was framed as part of a wider topic of if Formula 1 has a culture problem, with Vowles believing there has been a lot of positive change over the last two decades.

“The sport itself... wind back 20 years ago, male-dominated without question – if you had to ask me what makes up a team, it would be white, more than likely, male, more than likely, 40 years old... something in that ballpark. That's changing, and it's only a positive that's changing that result.

"I can only control what happens within Williams and what I can do within that environment is open everyone's eyes to this is how we have to be, because the best ideas don't come from being a closed group of individuals. It comes from diversity.

“These allegations are allegations. I’m afraid I don't have any understanding of what is behind them and the significance of what has happened. All I can say is that should this ever happen in our regard, we'll be entirely supportive in terms of fixing it and making sure we have a culture that is accepting of everyone.”