ホーナー氏がとどまればレッドブルは「爆発」する　フェルスタッペン父

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】フォーミュラワン（Ｆ１、Ｆ１世界選手権）でドライバーズ選手権３連覇中のマックス・フェルスタッペンの父で、元Ｆ１ドライバーのヨス氏は、女性チームスタッフへの「不適切行為」疑惑について潔白となったレッドブルのクリスチャン・ホーナー代表が現職にとどまれば、チームは「爆発」するだろうと述べた。（写真は、Ｆ１、レッドブルのクリスチャン・ホーナー代表）
　２日に行われた今季開幕戦のバーレーンＧＰで息子が優勝を飾ってから数時間後、ヨス氏は英紙デーリー・メールに対し、「彼（ホーナー氏）がポジションにとどまる間、チームには緊張がある」と述べた。
　「チームは引き裂かれる危険にさらされている。このままではまずい。爆発してしまう。彼は自分で問題を引き起こしておいて、被害者面をしている」
　チームは先月２８日、ホーナー氏に対する告発に関して、独自調査の結果「訴えを退けた」と発表。ホーナー氏自身も一貫して疑惑を否定していた。しかしその直後には、ホーナー氏と女性スタッフとのやり取りとされる私的なメッセージがＦ１関係者やメディアに流出し、騒動が再燃している。
　一方でヨス氏は、初めにオランダ紙テレグラフで取り沙汰された疑惑に、自身が何らかの関与をしているのではないかという見立てが広まっていることについては、「そんなことは意味がい。マックスがここでうまくやっているのに、なぜ私がそんなことをしなければならないのか」と否定している。
　バーレーンＧＰでホーナー氏は、妻のジェリ・ハリウェルさんとともに公の場に姿を現し、フェルスタッペンとセルヒオ・ペレスがワンツーフィニッシュを果たせたのは、チームが団結しているからだと述べている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/03/04-16:35）

Jos Verstappen, the father of three-time reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, has claimed that the Red Bull team will explode if team boss Christian Horner, recently cleared of charges of inappropriate behaviour towards a female employee, remains in his job.
There is tension here while he (Horner) remains in position, the former Dutch Formula One driver told the British newspaper Daily Mail in Sakhir, a few hours after his son's triumph at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday.
The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can't go on the way it is. It will explode, said Verstappen.
He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.
Red Bull announced on Wednesday that Horner had been cleared of alleged inappropriate behaviour following an internal investigation into complaints against him, which he has consistently denied.
But the sending, shortly afterwards, of an anonymous e-mail, containing WhatsApp messages allegedly written by Horner, to journalists, motor sport officials and rival teams, reignited the affair.
Jos Verstappen rejected notions which have been circulating that he played any part in the allegations which surfaced originally in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
That wouldn't make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here? he said.
Several teams denounced a lack of transparency during the internal investigation.
Horner, who was accompanied by his wife Geri Halliwell in Bahrain in a public show of support, reiterated after Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez claimed a Red Bull one-two in the season-opener that the team was united.
A one-two finish like this is the optimum and you don?t get that without being absolutely united, having a strong team and great support from partners and shareholders, he said.
You don?t achieve this without being united.
Asked by Sky Sports if he felt certain he had the backing of the Red Bull owners ? including majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya who was with him in Bahrain -- and was sure he would be at next weekend?s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he replied confidently.
Backing? Absolutely, yes. And I?ll be there. Otherwise I wouldn?t be here!
The 50-year-old Briton has guided Red Bull to six constructors? championship wins and seven drivers? title triumphs since 2005.
Last year?s Red Bull car won a record 21 of 22 races as the team dominated.