Williams boss Vowles responds to Horner allegations

Williams Team Principal James Vowles has become the first senior F1 staff member to speak out on the complaints made against Christian Horner.

On Monday it emerged that allegations had been made against Red Bull Team Principal Horner by a Red Bull employee.

The nature of the allegations has not been confirmed and Horner has denied all accusations.

While Vowles asserted that he has no knowledge of the details behind the allegations, he asserted that F1 should learn from the situation, regardless of the outcome.

“These allegations are allegations,” he told Bloomberg. “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.

"I think it means we all have to look 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."

Diversity boost

Vowles also voiced his support to ensure the sport is pushing itself to be more inclusive of different cultures going forward.

“The sport itself, wind back 20 years ago, male-dominated without question,” he said.

“If you had to ask me what makes up a team (20 years ago), 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.”